Newcastle United's owners, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), have not intervened in the Bruno Guimaraes transfer saga, despite claims of high-level talks. ChronicleLive understands that the club's Saudi backers have not waded in, and suggestions of talks above boardroom level with super agent Kia Joorabchian have not taken place.
Toon chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan did hold talks with CEO David Hopkinson in New York ahead of the World Cup final earlier this month. But the PIF supremo has full faith in Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson, who are in sole charge of transfers and have controlled all discussions on recruitment this summer. That is how it will stay, with PIF eager to allow staff on the ground to deal with day-to-day business and the idea to empower the staff they have hired since coming back in 2021.
No fresh talks with Arsenal
As frustration in the Arsenal fanbase grew yesterday, after reports of "advanced talks," it was made clear to us that there are no "parallel streams with PIF" on transfers and there is incredible trust with Hopkinson and Wilson, who the Saudi co-owners hired in 2025. As reported on ChronicleLive yesterday, Newcastle did not hold any fresh talks with Arsenal chiefs despite reports of "club-to-club contact."
The first point of contact would be, if Arsenal place an official bid, between Wilson and Gunners transfer chief Andrea Berta. Sources at both clubs confirmed yesterday that advanced talks had not taken place and Bruno was expected to report back for training on Friday. Our understanding is that Arsenal do not want to pay £80m for Bruno, while Newcastle have already dismissed the £70m suggestion reported last Friday after leaks from the capital.
Bruno's commitment and Howe's stance
Whether Bruno jets into La Manga with the team on the club's chartered flight or arrives in Spain after flying directly from South America remains to be seen. But Newcastle have not sought assurances from Bruno and expect him to show the same level of commitment he has shown since signing for the club when they were 19th in the table in 2022.
Howe had said on Saturday, after the 1-1 draw with Gateshead: "Look, I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. That's for other people to, one, speculate about, but also conversations that I'm not part of. There is nothing to say Bruno won't be back training with us. You've got to look at it in its own right; Bruno is the captain of our football club. He's been an unbelievable player and person all through the time we have worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club. We absolutely love him and, of course, everyone will want him to stay. We don't want to lose our best players. That's an obvious statement to make. Losing those big two (Gordon and Tonali) is painful for us and difficult."
