Pep Guardiola talks up "exceptional" Bruno Guimaraes ahead of Newcastle FA Cup tie

Guimaraes joined the Magpies from Lyon for around £40m in January 2022 and has since become a star player under manager Eddie Howe as well as a fans' favourite at St James' Park.

The Brazil international has contributed with 13 goals and 13 assists in 96 appearances as a deep-lying midfielder for Newcastle across all competitions, including three goals and seven assists in 39 games so far this season.

Recent reports claim that Man City are one of a number of top European clubs exploring a summer move for Guimaraes, with the Citizens said to hold a 'huge interest' in the 26-year-old.

Guardiola believed Guimaraes is one of the best players in his position in world football and has talked up his qualities ahead of Newcastle's visit to the Etihad on Saturday.

«He is an exceptional holding midfielder,» Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday, «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.»

Guimaraes is under contract at St James' Park until June 2028 and he recently insisted that he is «very happy» at the club.

However, the midfielder has been tipped to potentially depart the Magpies this summer amid the club's financial situation, with CEO Darren Eales stating earlier this year that the club may be required to sell some of their star players to balance their books.

Guimaraes has only faced Paris