Barcelona are reportedly running the rule over Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes as they seek further reinforcements to their engine room.
The former Lyon man waved goodbye to Ligue 1 in the January 2022 window to join the Magpies, three months after the PIF-backed takeover was completed at St James' Park.
Since touching down in the north of England, Guimaraes has been a revelation in the middle of the park for Eddie Howe's side, registering 11 goals and eight assists in 78 matches across all tournaments.
Guimaraes was a key cog in the Newcastle team who reached the EFL Cup final and finished fourth in the Premier League in 2022-23, and he has one goal and two assists from 21 matches in the current campaign.
With other esteemed European clubs beginning to circle, Newcastle tied Guimaraes down to a new long-term deal until the summer of 2028 back in October, although his extension is unlikely to deter potential suitors.
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According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have taken a liking to Guimaraes, whom they view as a potential long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets.
Busquets ended his glittering Camp Nou stint over the summer to join MLS upstarts Inter Miami, and Barcelona responded by adding Oriol Romeu to their ranks, as well as signing Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.
While Romeu is naturally a number six, Barcelona are supposedly hoping to add further cover to the position and are searching for a player whom they believe could be the 'next Yaya Toure' in the role.
La Blaugrana would likely struggle to convince Newcastle to enter talks over a deal for Guimaraes, though, as the Brazil international is seen as an indispensable member of Howe's squad.
Should Barcelona's pursuit of Guimaraes fail to bear fruit, the La Liga champions are believed to have identified a couple of alternative options to the former Lyon man, including Everton's Amadou Onana.
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The former Lille man has been consistently linked with an exit from Goodison Park, and speculation surrounding his future intensified after Everton were docked 10 points by the Premier League for breaching their profit and sustainability rules.
The Toffees still have Onana under contract until 2027, but Sean Dyche's side would be fighting an uphill battle to retain his services if they suffer a first-ever Premier League relegation this season.
In addition, Barcelona supposedly believe that Monaco lynchpin and France international Youssouf Fofana could fill the Busquets-sized void, and the Blaugrana may not have to pay a premium to sign the 24-year-old.
Fofana's deal with the Ligue 1 giants is due to expire at the end of next season, so Monaco could be pressured into a cut-price sale next summer if he does not sign an extension.
However, Barcelona may face competition from Manchester United to capture Fofana, whom the Red Devils have earmarked as a successor to the veteran Casemiro.
Ben Knapton
