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Guimaraes seeks Arsenal
Bruno Guimaraes has told Newcastle United he wants to leave St James’ Park and join Arsenal, with Arsenal stepping up their pursuit after the Brazil midfielder’s World Cup exit with Norway in the last 16.
“Bruno Guimaraes has asked to leave Newcastle, with Arsenal accelerating their interest in the midfielder”
The New York Times said Arsenal are willing to pay up to £60million for the 28-year-old, while The Guardian reported Newcastle have yet to receive any contact from Arsenal but are believed to be preparing an offer in the region of £60m.
Guimaraes has two years left on his Newcastle contract, and Sky Sports News said the conditions of a deal have been explored via intermediaries even though there has been no club-to-club contact.
Newcastle’s reluctance to sell is shaped by the summer departures already completed, including Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100m.
The BBC said Arsenal only want one leading central midfielder, with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi also being considered, as Newcastle insist their captain is not for sale.
No contact, deal talks
Sky Sports News reported that Newcastle are not making any comment and that it understands Arsenal have made no contact with them over the availability of Guimaraes, even as intermediaries have explored deal conditions.
Keith Downie, speaking for Sky Sports News, said: "there has been no offer from Arsenal or no contact from them whatsoever," while also describing Guimaraes as having indicated a desire to leave Newcastle United.
The Guardian framed the situation as Arsenal being ready to step up their interest after Guimaraes informed Newcastle that he wants to join the Premier League champions, and it said Arsenal are believed to be preparing an offer in the region of £60m.
The BBC added that during discussions aimed at checking the financial conditions of a deal, it is understood a fee of around £60m was initially intimated with Guimaraes’ representatives.
With Newcastle having already sold Tonali and Gordon this summer, the BBC said the arrival of a central midfielder would lead to the sale of a current player in the same position, with Christian Norgaard, 32, someone the club will listen to offers for.
What it means next
The stakes for Newcastle are heightened by the scale of their earlier sales, with The New York Times noting Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona this summer for £69.3m and Sandro Tonali has joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100m.
“Eurosport Transfer market: Bruno Guimaraes leaves OL and signs with Newcastle for a total deal worth €50 million”
The BBC said Newcastle ended up finishing in 12th place in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe, while also stressing that Guimaraes is the team’s captain and talisman after missing a penalty as Brazil exited the World Cup in the last 16 to Norway.
In Sky Sports’ account, Downie described Guimaraes as a “huge blow” to Newcastle fans if he leaves, and he pointed to the sense that Guimaraes might be thinking about when it would be his turn to move.
The New York Times said Guimaraes was part of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad at this summer’s World Cup, starting every match before elimination by Norway in the last-16 and providing four assists.
As Arsenal weigh their midfield options, the BBC said Arsenal only want one leading central midfielder and that Christian Norgaard, 32, could be among the players moved if Guimaraes arrives, with Martin Zubimendi’s role also potentially called into question.
