The Bruno Guimaraes transfer saga could drag on across the World Cup as Newcastle United transfer truth emerges
Bruno Guimaraes during a Brazil game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes is a transfer target for Arsenal(Image: GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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Newcastle United are yet to receive an official approach or bid for Bruno Guimaraes despite a tidal wave of talk that he is on Arsenal's wanted list.
The Brazil international is deemed a less-expensive alternative to Sandro Tonali in terms of a transfer fee, with the Italian offered to the Gunners via his agency GR Sports last week.
The Gunners did not entertain Tonali's £275,000 per week wage demands or the 10 per cent agent cut of what will be an astronomical fee.
Bruno remains on Arsenal's radar, according to sources in the capital and the suggestion of an offer of £45million, via intermediaries, is understood to have been instantly dismissed.
The Magpies insisted this week that the Brazil international was "not for sale" after intermediaries were told to make an enquiry on Newcastle's asking price for the star.
Newcastle's opening stance on a potential exit for Bruno has been clear, but if the player does not sign a new deal, his value will plummet in the next couple of windows as his contract edges toward expiry.
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What has to be stressed is that there has still not been any club-to-club contact on Bruno with the Gunners currently trying to see if there is a tipping point on the deal. Fresh reports of Newcastle offering Bruno a new £200,000 per week deal have emerged in the last 24 hours.
But those close to the deal say that Bruno's representatives, who flew out to the World Cup with no new contract on the table from United, says that earnings and contract length are not the motivation for the ex-Lyon star.
It is understood that the project is at the top of Bruno's priority list, and with Newcastle having no European football on offer next season and yet to make a major signing, the midfielder's agent is watching events on Tyneside unfold from afar at the World Cup.
Whether Arsenal produce an official offer remains to be seen but the transfer saga is similar to Alexander Isak's exit last summer when weeks of talks and suggestions via third parties eventually resulted in a firm £110m bid for the Sweden star, which was rejected on August 1.
It means Arsenal's interest in Bruno could drag on throughout the World Cup and potentially beyond, but Newcastle chiefs remain cool on their stance with the Brazil star.
CEO David Hopkinson said back in March: "We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer.
"But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club."
Back then Newcastle also refused to rule out bringing in marquee signings, but suggested that star names would have to be sold in order for that to happen.
Hopkinson said: "We can do that. But we might not be able to do that without selling somebody."