Arsenal believe they have saved £25 million on the transfer of Bruno Guimaraes thanks to savvy negotiations by super agent Kia Joorabchian. Newcastle United and Arsenal have reached a £75 million agreement for the Magpies' club captain, who has been granted permission to travel for a medical in North London.
End of a bitter saga
This brings an end to a bitter transfer saga between the Premier League rivals. Newcastle desperately tried to retain a key first-team figure, while Arsenal turned the player's head and finally secured their priority target. Just weeks ago, any potential move seemed unfathomable. United were insistent that Guimaraes was not for sale as the transfer window initially opened, slapping a £100 million price tag on him to demonstrate his importance to the club.
With Joorabchian's help, Guimaraes will now join Mikel Arteta's first-team as the Gunners look to defend the Premier League title they clinched in May, on top of chasing Champions League glory.
£25m saving
According to the Telegraph, Andrea Berta's club believes they have saved £25 million on Guimaraes' initial valuation of £100 million, given they are set to pay a flat guaranteed fee of £75 million for the transfer, with no add-on clauses included. However, whether Newcastle were always holding out for £75 million and their £100 million price tag was just to test the water could be another possibility.
Newcastle's summer exodus
Regardless, United will now look to bring in midfield reinforcement for the season ahead, having lost yet another key player. Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona in a £69 million deal as the window opened, with Bazoumana Traore brought in from TSV Hoffenheim for around £43 million as a successor. United also paid a combined £58.5 million to secure Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba from Ajax and Monaco respectively, following the £100 million departure of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur.
How the club plan to replace such an instrumental figure in Guimaraes remains to be seen. Even more alarming, the summer exodus on Tyneside may not be over just yet, with a number of other top talents linked with moves elsewhere.
Further departures?
Manchester United are thought to be monitoring Lewis Hall's situation following a breakthrough season for the Magpies, while Joelinton has been linked with a shock move to Saudi Arabia. Eddie Howe also resigned from his post as head coach last week, bringing a remarkable five-year tenure with the club to a close. Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle has been enlisted as his successor, with his first task at the reins coming in the form of overseeing United's pre-season camp in Spain.
Newcastle United are set to take on Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, August 8.
