Newcastle United’s summer is moving from bad to painfully alarming, with Bruno Guimaraes now reportedly pushing to follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of St. James’ Park.
According to The Athletic, Guimaraes has informed Newcastle that he wants to leave and join Arsenal this summer to play for the Premier League champions.
“Bruno Guimaraes has informed Newcastle United of his wish to leave St James’ Park and join Arsenal,” The Athletic reported. “The Premier League champions are stepping up
their pursuit of the 28-year-old and have indicated a willingness to pay up to £60million for the midfielder.”
Arsenal is willing to pay up to £60 million, roughly €70 million, for the 28-year-old, although Newcastle still insists its captain is not for sale.
The Guardian, meanwhile, also reported that Arsenal is ready to step up its interest after Bruno made his preference clear. At this point, Newcastle would do well to thank Arsenal if they get the Gunners to pay that fee and rid the Magpies of another Aleksander Isak situation sooner rather than later.
“Arsenal are ready to step up their interest in Bruno Guimarães, after the Brazil midfielder informed Newcastle that he wants to join the Premier League champions,” The Guardian reported.
All things considered, this summer transfer window could hardly be worse for Newcastle. Gordon has already joined Barcelona for £69.3 million, roughly €81 million, while Tonali has moved to Tottenham in a deal worth up to £100 million, roughly €117 million. Adding Bruno to the list of departed players would remove three members from Eddie Howe’s XI and leave the club looking like one bound for a 12-16th finish in the EPL, at the very best, next season.
The Athletic’s Chris Waugh described the possible loss of Bruno in blunt terms.
“If Newcastle were to sell Guimaraes AND Sandro Tonali during the same summer, then they may as well just give up now,” Waugh wrote.
Daily Mail reporters Craig Hope and Simon Jones added that intermediaries believe £75 million, roughly €88 million, could lead to progress in the negotiations with Newcastle, although the Magpies will not engage until Arsenal makes official contact, which is more than coming following Bruno’s public stance on the matter.
Bruno has two years left on his contract, plus a club option for another season. But now that he’s clearly forcing the issue, Newcastle would do better to let him go and enter a new era rather than entering a clash, waiting too much, and screw up another season out of pure stubbornness.
Five years into the PIF project, losing Gordon, Tonali and Bruno in one summer would make Newcastle look less like an emerging power and more like a club sliding backward, but that’s how things are going, and it’s better to make moves too soon than do them too late.
Salute to the captain and kudos for his contributions over the past four seasons in Tyneside.
