Manchester City only signed two players during the previous summer transfer window.
In addition to securing a £33m deal for Savinho, City also signed Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer from Barcelona, just one year after the German left the Etihad Stadium as a free agent.
Despite that, the Manchester club were linked with moves for numerous other players across Europe and beyond throughout the summer transfer period.
Now that the next January transfer window is around the corner, the Citizens have set their sights on launching a move for someone who has been on their radar previously.
- Man City transfer rumours: Every player linked to and from the Etihad in summer transfer window
Man City put Bruno Guimaraes back on transfer shortlist
A recent report from the Daily Mail claims that City have Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes on their shortlist of midfield targets.
The Blues are aiming to sign two new midfielders, ideally with one arriving in January, and could test the waters over a move for Guimaraes next month.
The report also adds that Pep Guardiola has insisted on the Newcastle star being a target for his side after initially being linked with a move for Guimaraes in the previous summer window but being put off by his £100m release clause, which has now expired.
What have Guardiola and Guimaraes said about each other?
Back in April, Guardiola discussed Guimaraes, saying this about the 27-year-old shortly after he was first linked with a move to City earlier this year.
He said: “He is an exceptional holding-midfielder. He is aggressive, with the ball or without the ball.
“At set pieces, he’s aggressive and is a real, complete holding midfielder since being at Lyon and now at a club who want to grow up and up. I’m sure he’s part of the project for the next years. Definitely.”
Last month, Guimaraes opened up about his City links, sharing details of a conversation he had with Guardiola on the subject.
He said: “I believe that at my club, I am an idol and I have a lot of respect.
“I am the captain of Newcastle and it is something that if you had asked me three years ago, my biggest dream would have been to play in the Premier League. Playing, being an idol, being captain is something wonderful. I really like Newcastle.”
“Of course, having Manchester City’s suggestions shows that I am at a high level but it was nothing more than suggestions.
“I know that [Pep] Guardiola likes my football, it is normal to have great coaches who admire your football. We have spoken once after the interview, I praised his work, he praised my work, but it was nothing more than that.”
With Guardiola a clear fan of the Brazil international, this should be enough to convince the City board to do what they can to land a deal for Guimaraes, either in January or in the summer transfer window.
