Bruno Guimaraes has informed Newcastle United of his desire to leave the club and join Arsenal this summer, handing the Gunners a significant boost in their pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder. Arsenal have already seen one bid rejected by their Premier League rivals, but Guimaraes's request to depart St James' Park could force Newcastle's hand.
Player's stance and club's response
According to The Athletic, the 28-year-old has communicated his wish to move to North London, and Arsenal are now expected to intensify their efforts to secure his services. The club is reportedly willing to put together a £60m package for Guimaraes, though no formal club-to-club talks have taken place yet. Newcastle remain determined to keep their captain, but the player's public stance may complicate their efforts.
Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in a £40m deal in 2022 and has made 195 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals. He played a key role in ending Newcastle's trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and helped the team qualify for the Champions League. He has two years remaining on his current contract.
Previous transfer speculation
Earlier this year, Guimaraes was linked with a move to Manchester United, with reports suggesting the Red Devils had agreed personal terms with him. However, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe dismissed those rumors as disrespectful. Speaking at the time, Howe said: "I don't even know how to respond to that. I don't even think I should because it's a waste of my energy. For me it's a nonsense story. Bruno's our captain, he's fully committed. He's injured at the moment, his only focus is coming back to fitness."
Howe added: "In the summer, you can understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open. To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else. He is totally committed here."
Newcastle's recent departures
If Guimaraes leaves, he would follow a string of high-profile players out of Newcastle. Alexander Isak joined Liverpool last summer, while Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon were sold to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, respectively. Kieran Trippier also left at the end of his contract, joining Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Guimaraes's potential departure would mark another significant loss for Newcastle, who are trying to balance their squad under financial constraints. Arsenal, meanwhile, see the Brazilian as a key addition to bolster their midfield ahead of the new season.
