Advanced talks underway: Trusted journo drops bombshell as Man Utd directly vying with Madrid for £70m PL stalwart

Manchester United have reportedly ignited their pursuit of Newcastle United stalwart Bruno Guimaraes, but face stern competition from Real Madrid.Reuters journalist Fernando Kallas, who broke the news of the Brazilian’s move from Olympique Lyonnais to Newcastle back in 2022, has claimed United are now in advanced talks to get a deal over the line as swiftly as possible.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYBruno Guimaraes to United: What’s been said?(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)The proposed transfer being negotiated is expected to cost around €80 million (£69.2m) – roughly £29m more than what the Magpies shelled out for him just over four years ago.It goes without saying that Newcastle would much prefer to sell Guimaraes to Madrid rather than to a direct English rival like United.However, with how impactful and influential a servant he has been throughout his tenure, they’ll also have to factor in the player’s desires.The 28-year-old might prefer to stay in England but ply his trade in a new environment, especially given Newcastle were just knocked out of the Champions League and are unlikely to qualify for the competition again next season, given they sit ninth-placed in the league. Appearances Goals Assists 147 30 25 (Guimaraes’ record in the Premier League)Casemiro urges INEOS to sign Guimaraes this summer (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Casemiro has spoken to United chiefs to personally recommend that Guimaraes is the main midfielder they sign to replace him ahead of his release in June. The two have played alongside one another at international level, so Casemiro is well aware of the Magpies skipper’s talents and how he can dictate matches.As well as Guimaraes, the Reds are also considering a move for his teammate Sandro Tonali, who is expected to leave at the end of the term if Newcastle fail to secure UCL football for 2026/2027. 🔺 NEW: Sandro Tonali’s agent has revealed that the player is considering leaving Newcastle United in the summer and may need Champions League football to tempt him to stay at St James’ Park. Read the details ⬇️https://t.co/5yOmwSEJKz — Times Sport (@TimesSport) February 6, 2026