Newcastle United’s turbulent summer feels like it can’t get any worse, but it actually could be about to take another significant turn for the worse following Eddie Howe’s departure.
With the Magpies on the verge of landing their new manager, a new report is pretty much putting an end to the transfer saga involving Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes and his transfer to Arsenal.
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported on Thursday that optimism is growing inside Arsenal that the Brazil international will soon
make the move to north London.
“There is growing expectation that Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes will join Arsenal this summer, multiple sources have told BBC Sport. The Brazil midfielder has made it clear he wants to join the Premier League champions and Arsenal are increasingly confident of signing the 28-year-old,” Mokbel reported.
According to the report, Arsenal is expected to improve its initial £70 million bid, with a package worth around £80 million viewed as the figure demanded by Newcastle to sanction a sale.
Amid the Howe debacle, Mokbel made sure to stress that Newcastle’s managerial change did not and will not impact the negotiations.
“The belief that a move is within reach is not connected to Eddie Howe’s decision to step down from his role as Newcastle head coach,” Mokbel reported.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has echoed that growing confidence around a deal. Jacobs reported Arsenal remains in active discussions over Guimaraes after making the midfielder its No. 1 target and priority, with talks continuing despite Newcastle’s public stance that no formal club-to-club negotiations have taken place.
“Arsenal are confident they can strike a deal with Newcastle United over Bruno Guimaraes, talkSPORT understands,” Jacobs reported. “Although Newcastle have denied formal contact, talkSPORT understands progress has been made on a verbal agreement north of £75million.“
Newcastle continues to insist it does not want to sell its captain, but the latest reports suggest Arsenal believes an agreement is now within reach. If completed, Guimaraes would follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of St. James’ Park in what has become one of the most disruptive summers of the club’s Saudi-backed era.
For now, per Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder, Bruno is set to join his teammates in La Manga on Sunday, assuming he’s still a member of Newcastle by then, for the final stretch of the Magpies’ preseason before they kick off their campaign with a game against Liverpool in late August.
