Yahoo News Man City transfer scrutiny over £100m Bruno Guimaraes deal as Joao Cancelo exit 'stalls'
Manchester City will have to go about their summer business in front of a backdrop of angst and uncertainty regarding their legal dispute with the Premier League.
While Euro 2024 has many occupied for the time being, City work behind that cover to best prepare for a crack at a fifth Premier League title in succession. Pep Guardiola seemingly always finds a way to tweak and improve his squads that break record upon record, and this summer the Spaniard has already been linked with splashing out on players with nine-figure sums or recruiting some of Europe's top talent.
But even still, the club's looming Premier League hearing regarding 115 charges of alleged financial breaches sees a dark cloud hang over any business conducted. A legal challenge has been lodged, with tension building day by day.
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With every move the club makes seemingly under the microscope, MEN Sport has taken a look at the latest City news and gossip that has been doing the rounds in the last 24 hours.
£100m Bruno Guimaraes would not be a good look for FFP case
Man City have been told that throwing £100m at Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes ahead of the new season would not be a 'great look' with the outcome of the club's financial charges still to come.
According to sister site Chronicle Live, the Brazilian midfielder possesses a release clause for that sum in his contract, and it can be activated before June 24. Guardiola is said to be interested, but former City financial advisor Stefan Borson has said such a move would be of bad taste under the circumstances.
"I think if you go into a hearing that’s specifically looking at the sort of spending requirements around the game, the last thing that you want is the barristers on the other side to point out that it is run in the backdrop of City triggering a near-record release clause," he told Football Insider.
"You may have heard a bit of a sob story from Manchester City this week in respect to this case. The reality is that they have won four titles on the run and so paying the release clause of a footballer for £100million wouldn’t be a great look.
"It’s pretty subtle, but these are cases that can turn on fine margins. So I think that they would probably not want to do that in the middle of the case."
MEN Sport says: Bruno Guimaraes is certainly one of the Premier League's standout midfielders, and at 26 he is still in his prime years. Signing him amid the contract uncertainty of veteran Kevin de Bruyne would just be typical of City being proactive in the transfer market and getting business done ahead of their rivals. As for what Borson says, yes, such a deal may make it more difficult to sympathise with the club, but this piece of business is not going to be part of those investigations. If done within the lines, as City say everything has been since 2009, then why worry?
Joao Cancelo exit stalls with City steadfast on £25m fee
According to Spanish publication Marca, City are no closer to offloading Joao Cancelo as there continues to be a disagreement with Barcelona regarding the structure of a transfer.
After falling out with Guardiola, the Portuguese full-back spent last season on loan to the Catalan club. Spanish chiefs want to bring him back next season, though only on a reported loan-to-buy deal, whereas City hope to get rid of the player for good after 18 months of limbo.
Barca would only be able to afford to loan for the 2024/25 campaign then succumb to a mandatory purchase clause next summer, valued closer to £16.8m. City would rather pay a full fee of £25m now.
Cancelo's contract at the Etihad Stadium runs until 2027, with no sign of Guardiola offering a U-turn on his decision to exclude the defender from his plans.
MEN Sport says: City cannot afford to get caught up in a debacle, but I would not expect them to just give in to Barcelona's demands either. No matter what happens, Cancelo needs to have been moved on before September 1's transfer deadline, whether that be back to Camp Nou or not. If no other interest can be found, then agree to the terms of a loan, though with a fee closer to City's reported £25m value. No good can come of him staying, as it takes up wages that can be used to improve the squad and leaves a potential mood killer in and around the training ground.
