Liverpool’s Midfield Plans Include Bruno Guimaraes, but the Price Tag Is a Problem

Liverpool has joined the scrum for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Brazilian is on the radar of basically every big club in Europe. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all in the mix too.

Guimaraes just turned 28. He put up nine goals and eight assists across 41 games last season from central midfield. That’s production you don’t often get from that spot, and it explains why half the continent is interested.

Why Liverpool fits

Andoni Iraola wants midfielders who can cover ground, win the ball back and still contribute in the final third. Guimaraes checks those boxes. He’s a good tackler, reads danger well and can play box-to-box or sit deeper if needed. He’s also got the long-range shot and the vision to unlock defenses.

He knows the league. He’s durable. At 28, his best years aren’t behind him yet. That’s a rare combo in the summer market.

The contract problem

Here’s where it gets complicated. Guimaraes signed an extension that runs through 2028. Newcastle has no pressure to sell, and they’re not exactly known for doing rivals any favors. Liverpool would have to pay something close to the full market rate, and with multiple bidders, that number only goes up.

The Reds have been smart with money under their current setup. They don’t usually get into bidding wars for 28-year-olds with four years left on their deal. But Guimaraes might be the exception if they think he’s the missing piece for a real title push.

What he’d bring to the lineup

Depth is a real issue for Liverpool in the middle of the park. Adding Guimaraes would mean having someone who can start 40 games a season and not drop off. He’d push the current starters and give Iraola options against different opponents. That matters in a league where the schedule gets brutal by December.

Fans online have been split. Some love the idea of a proven Premier League midfielder. Others worry about the price tag and the ages of the other targets. But the club’s interest seems real. Whether they can actually pull it off is another question.

Newcastle has its own ambitions. Selling a key player to a direct rival isn’t how you build a contender.