Manchester City are ready to use Rico Lewis or Oscar Bobb as bait in the pursuit of Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes.
The English champions could loan one of those youngsters to the Magpies next season – if it helps secure them the signature of in-demand Guimaraes.
The Geordies want £100million for their Brazilian midfielder, who is also being tracked by Arsenal, but City are refusing to pay that amount.
They value Guimaraes, 26, nearer the £80m mark and that means, for now, the move to take the South American to the Etihad is on hold.
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However, Newcastle’s own transfer interest in Lewis and Bobb could change that and prove key to breaking the stalemate.
City have made it clear to the Toon that neither is available for sale this summer. They regard Lewis, 19, and Bobb, 21, integral to the club’s long-term future .
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In the short-term, though, Pep Guardiola may feel he can afford to lose one of them in his search to add a top central midfielder to the squad before next season’s bid for an unprecedented fifth consecutive title.
Lewis burst onto the City first-team scene during the 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign, notching up 10 starts in the Premier League.
But the versatile England international, who can operate at full back or in the inverted midfield role, made only eight starts last term.
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Norwegian winger Bobb, meanwhile, figured even less as he was used almost exclusively off the bench following his elevation into the senior squad from the Under-23s.