Bruno Guimaraes' camp have played down suggestions they have caused a storm at Newcastle while the club remain adamant he is not for sale
Newcastle United are prepared for Arsenal to launch a transfer approach for Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United are prepared for Arsenal to launch a transfer approach for Bruno Guimaraes(Image: (Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
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Newcastle United fear transfer window Groundhog Day at St James’ Park - after Bruno Guimaraes was understood to have indicated that he wanted to quit the Magpies for Arsenal.
Chronicle Live reported on June 25 that Bruno was 'not for sale' and as a fresh story broke last night, there was an insistence that was still the case.
And while sources at St James' Park felt that agents or intermediaries were responsible for the leak, those close to Guimaraes and his representatives told us it had not come from the Brazil star's camp.
They said that Bruno knows he is well paid at Newcastle and would not dream of disrupting Eddie Howe's pre-season plans but the proof will be in the pudding later this month if he reports back on time.
Whether Bruno would down tools to win a move is also up for debate, given the player has never caused any trouble since arriving in 2022.
Our information is that a conversation on a possible price took place between intermediaries and middlemen last month at £45m, but this was instantly batted away.
Since then there has been a suggestion that a bid close to £60m could be enough to sway the Magpies but that was played down on Tyneside last night, while Arsenal may look elsewhere if they feel the price for the 28-year-old goes beyond their valuation.
A lower bid than £60m may follow in the coming days but as of last night there was no official communication between the two clubs.
Arsenal sources have cited that Bruno will turn 29 in November and that the asking price for a player with two years left on his deal remains too high, as his price will soon start to plummet.
Just 12 months ago, Sweden star Alexander Isak went on strike to earn his £125million move to Liverpool, and now a similar episode is unfolding with Bruno.
For weeks, the idea of Bruno joining the Premier League champions has been floated by the player’s representatives.. Now, after being knocked out of the World Cup and missing a penalty against Norway, Bruno has had time to gather his thoughts on his future.
Sources close to the player say that Bruno is concerned about the direction of the sporting project on Tyneside after Newcastle finished 12th and failed to build on their Carabao Cup victory in 2025.
Back then, Guimaraes became the first man since Bobby Moncur in 1969 to lift a trophy for Newcastle, but he is believed to be concerned about the high-profile sales of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur.
Bruno jetted out to the World Cup finals in the US without signing a new deal with the Magpies, but has two years left to run on his current deal. If he refuses to extend his contract, his valuation will plummet as he edges towards the last 12 months of his arrangement at St James’.
When asked if his contract had an extra year option to be added after two years, Newcastle did not comment.
Arsenal chiefs believe that while there is no minimum fee release clause within the framework of his contract, Newcastle could be open to a £60m sale for their captain.
The word from the corridors of power at Newcastle last night was that there was no offer on the table, or even an approach for the Brazil star.
However, that could accelerate in the next few weeks, and the big question mark will be, like Isak, will Bruno refuse to train with Newcastle when he is due back later this month?