Bruno Guimaraes’ Newcastle United career appears to be over, at least unofficially.
According to French outlet L’Equipe, Arsenal has reached an agreement in principle to sign the Magpies captain. The Brazil international has been heavily linked with the Premier League champions throughout the summer, and negotiations appear to be coming to an end even before he has a chance to land in the United Kingdom.
L’Equipe is reporting that Arsenal has increased its offer to €90 million (£77 million), with only
the final details of the transfer still to be completed but an agreement already in place for Bruno to sign with the reigning champions.
“Arsenal have forced Newcastle to increase their offer to €90 million, excluding bonuses, for Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Some details remain to be finalized to complete the deal,” L’Equipe’s Hugo Guillemet reported. “After two offers of €70 million and then €80 million were rejected, Arsenal finally swayed Newcastle United by proposing a base price of €90 million on Friday, plus bonuses that are still to be negotiated, as well as agent fees.
“If all goes through in the coming days, the Brazilian international will become an Arsenal player, a dream he has cherished for the past month.”
Guimaraes had already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract running through 2031 several weeks ago, and L’Equipe added that discussions with Newcastle are now just focused on bonuses and agent commissions before the transfer can be made official.
This latest and seemingly definitive development follows a series of reports suggesting the move was edging closer. BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported Thursday there was “growing expectation” Guimaraes would join Arsenal, while Ben Jacobs also said the Gunners were increasingly confident of striking an agreement worth more than £75 million.
Earlier Friday, Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder and Sky Sports’ Keith Downie revealed Guimaraes would not travel with Newcastle’s squad on Friday to Spain for the start of its La Manga training camp, instead having his scheduled arrival moved to Sunday, with the negotiations for a transfer to Arsenal the main reason behind that change.
If the pending details are finalized, Guimaraes would become the latest high-profile departure from St. James’ Park this summer following the exits of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and manager Eddie Howe, bringing an end to one of the most successful individual spells by a Newcastle midfielder in the Premier League era.
