Man City boss Pep Guardiola makes Bruno Guimaraes admission amid Newcastle United exit rumours

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Newcastle United will travel to Manchester City for an important Premier League clash on Saturday.

Eddie Howe is looking to make it three wins in all competitions but must overcome the defending Premier League champions Manchester City.

Newcastle United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table following defeats in two of their last three top-flight games. Man City are fifth and both clubs can break into the top four with a win.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	Man CityManchester City	24	12	5	7	48	35	13	41
6	NewcastleNewcastle	24	12	5	7	42	29	13	41

Howe confirmed Sven Botman will miss the Man City clash after picking up a knee injury in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win against Arsenal – a silver lining is that Dan Burn should be fit to feature after being forced off with a groin issue during the Magpies FA Cup tie against Birmingham City.

Toon captain Bruno Guimaraes is in line to feature against Man City – Guimaraes was linked to Man City in the summer while his £100m release clause was still active.

With Guimaraes set to travel to the North West, Pep Guardiola has commented on the Brazilian’s season.

Pep Guardiola admires Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes

Guimaraes was named Newcastle’s captain at the beginning of the season. Before that, rumours circulated that Guimaraes could join Man City.

Reports in January suggested that Man City offered £70m for Guimaraes which Newcastle deemed nowhere near enough for the midfielder.

The Magpies are eager to keep ahold of the 27-year-old – reports suggest that Guimaraes is happy to stay at Newcastle, despite the longstanding interest.

In his pre-match press conference, Guardiola was asked for his thoughts on Guimaraes’ season.

“There are many threats, a lot of positive things – Bruno is one of them,” he said.

“It’s not just this season, he has played two, three, four seasons at a high level since arriving from France. He is playing more advanced – he used to play as a holding midfielder now he’s more right-sided.

“The physicality they have, the long balls, the set pieces. It’s a solid team already. Of course, we will congratulate them on the Carabao Cup final.

“They will be competitors for the top four until the very end.”

Bruno Guimaraes set for salary increase at Newcastle

Newcastle are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep ahold of one of their prized assets.

In January, it was reported that as well as Man City, Barcelona were interested in Guimaraes and are even willing to sell midfielder Frenkie de Jong to make the deal happen.

In an attempt to deter any interest, Paul Mitchell will offer Guimaraes a new contract at the end of the season. The Brazilian has over three years left on his current deal and is the Magpies’ highest earner on £160,000-a-week. The report states that Guimaraes will receive a small salary increase alongside the extended contract.

His title of highest earner is under threat, however. Newcastle want to give Alexander Isak a new deal which could see him trump Guimaraes’ weekly wage.

As well as the salary, Isak could take the number nine shirt from Callum Wilson who is out of contract at the end of the season.