Bruno Guimaraes has informed Newcastle United that he wants to leave the club, with Arsenal poised to test their resolve with a £60m offer. The Brazil midfielder, who missed a penalty in his country’s World Cup exit to Norway on Sunday, has his heart set on a move to north London after holding talks with Arsenal’s representatives last month. Newcastle have yet to receive any contact from the Premier League champions, but it is believed a bid in the region of £60m is being prepared.
Guimaraes, 28, joined Newcastle from Lyon for £40m in 2022 and has since made 195 appearances, scoring 30 goals. He captained the side to Carabao Cup glory and Champions League qualification. But with two years remaining on his contract, he now wants out – a fresh blow for a club that has already lost Sandro Tonali to Tottenham (for up to £100m) and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona this summer. Alexander Isak departed for Liverpool last year, while Kieran Trippier left on a free transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“Bruno Guimaraes has asked to leave Newcastle, with Arsenal preparing a £60m offer for the Brazil midfielder.”
Arsenal are prioritising a central midfielder, with concerns over Declan Rice’s long-term fitness prompting the search. Alternatives to Guimaraes include Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi. To make room in the squad, Christian Nørgaard, who started only one Premier League game last season after joining from Brentford, could be allowed to leave. The Gunners are also targeting Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for their attack, with Villa wanting more than £100m for the England midfielder.
Newcastle, determined not to lose their captain, have already moved to find a replacement for Tonali by closing in on the signing of 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur. The Dutch club are in a delicate position as Steur’s contract expires in 2028, and a deal would allow Newcastle to reinvest the Tonali sale proceeds. The club’s strategy has shifted towards targeting promising players aged 20 and under, such as Bazoumana Toure, who will need time to develop. Guimaraes would have been the ideal leader for that rebuild – now his departure threatens to derail it.