Newcastle United have set an asking price of nearly £92 million for Bruno Guimaraes, with sources at St James’ Park insisting no direct talks have taken place with Arsenal over the Brazil international.
One Newcastle power broker scoffed at reports that the Gunners have initiated direct negotiations: “They must still be on hold at the switchboard.”
“Newcastle demand nearly £92m for Bruno Guimaraes amid Arsenal interest, but deny direct talks.”
The stance comes as Arsenal are reported to have made Guimaraes – unsettled at Newcastle and keen to explore a move to north London – their transfer priority after missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea. Yet Newcastle insiders are convinced the interest is being driven by intermediaries rather than the club itself, and are bewildered by Arsenal’s lack of direct communication.
According to sources, any deal would need to be done with enough time to replace Guimaraes properly, and the fee would have to give Newcastle a realistic chance of doing so. The figures currently being discussed are described as a “joke” by one source.
Newcastle are facing what insiders call a “transition” summer, forced to pivot away from established talent because of difficult Uefa financial rules, missteps and an overspend last summer, and a failure to qualify for Europe. They are “taking their medicine”, in the words of one observer.
As a result, new recruits are almost certain to be aged 18 to 24, with high ceilings but room to develop. Most targets are based in Europe, but securing them is proving difficult; insiders admit that after missing out on Johan Manzambi and Victor Munoz earlier in the window, more disappointment is possible.
This is not the project Guimaraes was sold on. The Brazil international, who believes his natural stage is the Champions League, is uneasy at the prospect of playing for a team hothousing young talent. Those who know his mindset also believe he has been shaken by missing a penalty in Brazil’s World Cup exit to Norway.
Newcastle’s focus remains on incomings. Meetings were taking place on Tuesday aimed at expediting deals for a new midfielder and goalkeeper, two priority positions. The club are working on “multiple” targets, but the Guimaraes saga – like the Alexander Isak situation – means you can never say never. As one source put it, given the prices being paid this summer, only something extraordinary unlocks a sale.
