Newcastle United have stepped up their interest in Manchester City midfielder Nico González as they look to rebuild their midfield following Bruno Guimarães’ £75 million move to Arsenal. Newcastle have opened discussions with City, who are willing to consider offers for the 24-year-old despite González previously indicating during preseason that he planned to remain at the Etihad Stadium for the new campaign.

González joined City from Porto for £50 million in January 2025 and has since made 59 appearances, scoring four goals. His most memorable contribution came in last season’s FA Cup semifinal, when he scored the winning goal against Southampton at Wembley. A potential move to Newcastle would continue a major reshaping of City’s midfield, with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders also heading for new clubs this summer.

City are already considering further changes in the position, with Elliot Anderson starting alongside Mateo Kovacic in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. The club are also confident of completing a deal for highly rated 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, while interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández remains. Newcastle’s pursuit of González could therefore become an important part of an increasingly busy transfer period for both clubs.

Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez remains at the centre of uncertainty at Atlético Madrid despite coach Diego Simeone expecting him to play a major role this season. Real Madrid have reportedly made a €150 million offer, while Barcelona have also expressed interest, but Atlético continue to view the Argentina forward as an important part of their plans. Álvarez is not yet ready to feature in Atlético’s opening LaLiga fixture after returning late from the World Cup, while new defender Cristian Romero has arrived from Tottenham to add leadership, physical strength and experience to Simeone’s squad.