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Juventus Transfers: Bianconeri set sights on €45m midfielder

By James Cormack

LYON, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 04: Bruno Guimaraes of Olympique Lyon walks in the field during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Olympique Lyon and Sparta Praha at Parc Olympique on November 4, 2021 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
LYON, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 04: Bruno Guimaraes of Olympique Lyon walks in the field during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Olympique Lyon and Sparta Praha at Parc Olympique on November 4, 2021 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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A new name has emerged in Juventus’ pursuit of a new midfielder this January. The Bianconeri are now setting their sights on Lyon’s Bruno Guimarães.

Juve are keen to refresh their midfield ranks this month. Although, Massimiliano Allegri was coy over new arrivals as he spoke ahead of the Napoli game last Thursday. The boss said that there was a “99%” probability that his squad would stay the same come February.

However, he did admit that Aaron Ramsey would leave the club this winter and the latest reports suggest the club are working to bring in midfield reinforcements. Juve had previously been linked with impending free agent Denis Zakaria, but that rumour has gone cold in recent weeks.

Juventus are admirers of Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimarães

On Monday night, Goal Italia’s Romeo Agresti reported that Juventus have made contact with Lyon over midfielder Guimarães.

However, the French club value the Brazilian highly and would only be interested in entertaining offers around the €45m mark. The Bianconeri are attempting to find a solution and they could take the midfielder on an initial loan with a €45m obligation to buy in the summer.

Juventus aren’t the only club keen on signing Guimarães this month, though. Both Arsenal and Newcastle United have also expressed an interest in the Brazilian.

Would Bruno Guimarães bolster the Bianconeri?

Bruno Guimarães is exactly the type of midfielder Juventus should be targeting. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Bruno Guimarães is exactly the type of midfielder Juventus should be targeting. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images) /

Defensive midfielder Guimarães has been a hit in France ever since Lyon paid €20m for his services in January 2020. You might remember him starring at the base of midfield against Juventus as Lyon knocked out Maurizio Sarri’s Bianconeri in the last 16 of the Champions League two seasons ago.

The Brazilian is a technically supreme midfielder who has primarily operated on the left side of a double pivot for Peter Bosz this season. He’s also capable of performing a deeper-lying function. Guimarães is a comfortable operator in the final third, although much of his good work takes place in the first two phases.

He’s an excellent passer and he stands out in almost every statistical category in this regard. The Brazilian’s secure, efficient and progressive, while his xA (expected assists) per 90 minutes haul of 0.15 ranks in the 89th percentile of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.

However, the 24-year-old does need refinement in the defensive phase and there are doubts over his capacity to evolve into a complete #6. At this stage of his career, he’s well-suited to a box-to-box role and there’s no questioning that he’d be a welcome addition to Juventus.

In terms of age and skill set, Guimarães is exactly the type of midfielder Juve should be targeting.

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