Incoming Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle is set to hold face-to-face talks with Bruno Guimaraes amid Arsenal's pursuit of the midfielder. The Gunners have identified the Brazilian as one of their prime targets, alongside compatriot Vinicius Jr.
An agreement between the clubs is expected to be reached in the coming days, with a fee believed to be at least £80m and potentially rising to £85m with add-ons. Despite the growing expectation that Guimaraes will become an Arsenal player before the transfer window closes, Jaissle is keen to speak with him.
Jaissle's vision for Newcastle
The 38-year-old is expected to be confirmed as Eddie Howe's successor after the former boss's exit was announced on Friday. According to Chronicle Live, Jaissle wants to sit down with his new players as part of his efforts to communicate his vision and philosophy, and Guimaraes is among those he wishes to address.
Jaissle is due to fly to Newcastle's training camp at La Manga on Saturday, while Guimaraes is scheduled to return on Sunday following an extended break after the World Cup. The midfielder is then expected to rejoin training the next day.
Guimaraes' emotional farewell to Howe
Amid the transfer speculation, Guimaraes shared a heartfelt message to Howe on social media. He wrote: "Ed, how could I ever put into words how grateful I am to you? First of all, I want to thank you for bringing me to this club. Thank you for everything you've done for me, for helping me grow not only as a player, but more importantly, as a person.
"You gave me the honour of being captain - of being your captain. That is something I will never forget and will carry with me for the rest of my life.
"Sharing the day-to-day with you and having you as my manager has been a privilege. I'm truly grateful for every opportunity, for the trust you placed in me, and for every moment we shared together.
"Without a doubt, you are one of the best managers I've ever had. Please know that my gratitude will always remain, and that you will always have a friend in me.
"Thank you for everything. I wish you and your family nothing but happiness, success, and all the very best. With affection, Bruno."
Howe's final update on Guimaraes
Howe, meanwhile, gave a final assessment of Guimaraes' situation following Newcastle's pre-season defeat to Bristol City. He said: "What will be, will be.
"We can't control the forces that are at play here, we've just got to make sure that when Bruno comes back, we look after him and he trains well, which I'm sure he will do. And he makes a difference as he always has done.
"We've spoken numerous times. Assurances? I don't think you can push too hard for those. I've said many times we want players who are committed, and Bruno has always been committed. His training performances and his game performances have been outstanding, every time he's worn the shirt, he's played with the fans by his side. I'd love to see that continue."
