Bruno Guimaraes is still a target for Arsenal but internal claims from Newcastle United that they under no pressure to sell may be put to the test soon
Newcastle United's Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United chiefs are ready to play hardball with Arsenal after Bruno Guimaraes reported for pre-season training as a wanted man.
The Magpies have been irked by what insiders describe as 'six weeks of talk' before a bid believed to be around the £75million mark was knocked back over the weekend.
It emerged that the offer had been swiftly rejected, with Newcastle's stance to hold on to their captain for the new season and the player turning up in La Manga on Monday.
CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson are aware that the sale of Bruno could anger some sections of the fanbase, so soon after the exits of Alexander Isak in 2025 to Liverpool and summer exits for Sandro Tonali to Spurs for £100m and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m.
Hopkinson and Wilson are deemed the key men who would make any decision on Bruno being sold, with no interference on players' sales coming from Saudi backers PIF.
Despite fears that Bruno might 'do an Isak' and refuse to come back for pre-season training, the midfielder and his camp assured Newcastle that would not be the case and he satisfied the club's board by reporting for work on Monday as planned. Bruno is believed to have complied with all requests from the Magpies and communicated accordingly. He even took to social media last night to post a picture of the La Manga camp.
Newcastle were braced for further contact from Arsenal last night, but Chronicle Live understands the Gunners are reluctant to bid much more than their formal offer.
Earlier in the window Arsenal pulled out of the race to sign England star Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa after seeing Chelsea step in with £117m.
Whether they stay at the table for Bruno remains to be seen but there were suggestions that Newcastle haven't seen the last of the Gunners as the situation began to come to a head on Monday.
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Tribute to a true footballing legend, Kevin Keegan
As Britain’s only multi -Ballon d’Or winner, his deeds on the pitch for Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle were legendary in their own right.
But the beauty of Keegan is that he was about far more than kicking or heading a ball. He was a man of the people, the authentic working class idol who always put the fans first and was never too busy to turn down an autograph request or, in more recent times, a selfie.
This special edition covers off the many highs, and the occasional low, of a career in which Special K was the most popular footballer of his generation and then a manager the fan on the street could warm to and identify with.
To slightly alter the words of the great man himself, We’d Love It if you enjoy reading about the many memories. LOVE IT!
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