Arsenal are yet to submit a formal offer for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Steve Bruce has fired a swipe at the financial restrictions amid the ongoing Bruno Guimaraes saga.
As it stands, Arsenal are yet to contact Newcastle United or make a concrete offer. But it is understood that the Brazilian would like to explore a move to North London.
Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to clubs that can stump up bigger wages. With Alexander Isak setting the tone last summer, the Magpies are in the middle of a rebuild, signing three youngsters in the current window.
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Steve Bruce on Bruno Guimaraes
Speaking to talkSPORT, “I think it's this financial fair play. Aston Villa are going through a similar sort of thing where they don't want to sell their best players. But it's probably the only way they can move forward with the financial restrictions they're finding.
“Of course, they've built a very, very good team over the last two, three, four years. The last thing you want to be doing is selling your better players but it looks as if Guimaraes might be next.
“I know he's a huge player up in Newcastle and they'll do everything they can to keep hold of him but he's already made suggestions that he would like to go to Arsenal. It is worrying times if you're a Newcastle fan at the moment.
“Yes, they've brought in two, three younger lads. Maybe that's the route they might have to go down because of the financial restrictions that the club find themselves in which is, I'm sure, annoying for everybody concerned.”
Newcastle United stance
As mentioned, Newcastle have not received a formal approach from Arsenal. While the club wish to avoid Isak 2.0, they do not want - or need - to sell their captain.
Offloading Gordon and Tonali has given the Magpies headroom in the market. For now, Newcastle sit and wait for the Gunners to formalise their interest.
Unlike the Isak saga - where the transfer fee was never considered an obstacle - the two clubs remain apart in terms of valuation. Any sale would be done on Newcastle’s terms, who are wary of looking weak after already losing two high-profile stars.