Bruno Guimaraes is no longer expected to join Newcastle United on Friday for the start of the club’s preseason training camp in Spain, adding another twist to a transfer saga that appears to be approaching its conclusion.
With Arsenal increasingly confident of signing the Brazil international and set to improve their offer to a £75 million-plus offer, Newcastle has altered the captain’s travel plans while discussions over his future continue.
Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder reported Guimaraes will not travel
with the squad to La Manga on Friday as originally expected.
“Newcastle United have made plans to jet Bruno Guimaraes out to La Manga on Sunday – with the skipper set to hold talks with new manager Matthias Jaissle on his future,” Ryder reported.
According to Ryder, Newcastle maintains the schedule change is linked to Guimaraes’ post-World Cup fitness program rather than any ongoing transfer negotiations, with the midfielder expected to fly directly to Spain instead of returning to England first.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie echoed that expectation but acknowledged the situation could change between Friday and Sunday, which sounds like the real reason behind Bruno’s absence from Friday’s trip, which also included an on-site players-brass meeting to formally and officially inform the squad about Eddie Howe’s exit.
“I do expect Bruno Guimaraes to join up with the squad. I don’t expect him to travel here to the UK first, I think he will go straight to Spain. That’s of course unless Arsenal can get a deal done before then,” Downie said.
The timing comes as multiple reports indicate Arsenal is closing in on an agreement for Newcastle’s captain. BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported Thursday there is “growing expectation” Guimaraes will join the Premier League champions soon, while Ben Jacobs also said Arsenal is increasingly confident of reaching an agreement worth more than £75 million in the next few days.
With Guimaraes’ arrival in Spain now delayed until Sunday, the next 48 hours could prove decisive for the future of the Brazilian international, who may never join Newcastle’s preseason camp under new head coach Matthias Jaissle at all.
