Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes (Image: PA)
Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes (Image: PA)
NEWCASTLE have rejected Arsenal's opening offer for Bruno Guimaraes, with the bid understood to have fallen significantly short of United's valuation of their captain.
It comes as Bruno prepares to link up with Newcastle's squad in La Manga this afternoon.
The Brazilian touched down in Spain on Monday morning and is now set to meet Matthias Jaissle for the first time.
Newcastle sources say the plan was always for Bruno to rejoin the squad on Monday after travelling over the weekend following his extended summer break.
But the 28-year-old is expected to inform Jaissle of his desire to join Arsenal this summer.
For that to happen, the Premier League champions must increase their opening offer.
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Newcastle are said to value Bruno north of £80m, while sources close to Arsenal suggest the Gunners' valuation is around the £70m mark.
It does, though, feel increasingly likely that Bruno will end up moving to the capital this summer.
Speculation has swirled around Guimaraes for the last month since news first broke that Arsenal had identified the midfielder as a leading target, and that the Brazilian international was interested in the move.
Despite weeks of speculation, Newcastle hadn't received direct contact from Arsenal until the Gunners finally submitted an opening bid, which was swiftly rejected.
Newcastle's fifth signing of the summer was confirmed on Monday morning when goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček put pen to paper on a five-year contract, and, while United chiefs are desperate to keep Bruno this summer, they've had to prepare for every possibility and potential midfield targets have been lined up.
Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, with Eddie Howe telling of how it has been another "challenging" summer window after the pre-season friendly draw with Gateshead. News then broke last week that Howe would be stepping down as boss, which was confirmed on Friday morning.
Jaissle linked up with the squad in La Manga over the weekend, with confirmation of his appointment imminent.