FC Barcelona could reportedly offer Raphinha to Newcastle United in a bid to sign Bruno Guimaraes in the January window.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants are intent on signing a world-class midfielder next year, with Guimaraes one of three options Barcelona are now considering.
With the Brazilian signing a new contract with Newcastle, though, Barcelona simply don’t have the finances to sign Guimaraes outright, which is where Raphinha comes into the picture.
Signed from Leeds United last year in a £55m deal, the winger has been linked with Newcastle in recent weeks as Eddie Howe’s side look to add to their attacking ranks in January.
As a result, a swap deal could now be done, with Raphinha heading back to the Premier League whilst Guimaraes heads to one of Europe’s biggest clubs in Barcelona.
Indeed, whilst a deal makes sense on paper, the likelihood of such a transfer actually happening remains at zero, with Guimaraes not leaving Newcastle as easily as that.
Newcastle can’t let Guimaraes leave for Barcelona despite Raphinha proposal
Attacking reinforcements are needed at St. James Park in January, with Newcastle losing players seemingly on a weekly basis due to injury.
And whilst Raphinha would be an exceptional signing for the Toon, the winger isn’t worth losing Guimaraes, who is one of Newcastle’s most important players.
Lauded as a ‘top player’ by Nick Pope, the midfielder has been instrumental to Newcastle’s sensational rise under Howe in the last 18 months.
And the Magpies can’t allow the Brazilian international to leave for Barcelona, even if it means getting an attacker as good as Raphinga in exchange.