Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Arsenal
Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Arsenal
Newcastle United look set to confirm a £75million deal with Arsenal for captain Bruno Guimaraes after finally agreeing to end the transfer saga.
Magpies chiefs are ready to shake hands with the Brazilian in what will be an amicable split after high-level talks between United and the Premier League champions put both sides on the brink of an agreement.
Bruno checked into United's training camp in La Manga on Monday and has spent time with team officials and incoming manager Matthias Jaissle. But the club captain has continued to make it clear he wishes to pursue a move to London and sign a bumper deal with Arsenal.
Newcastle's stance has always been that they don't want to sell their captain. However, they also want players who are committed to the club. Bruno did not want to discuss a new contract and his verdict was he wanted the move to North London.
Newcastle are likely to walk away with a fee north of £75m for the Brazil international, and the player, who will be 29 in November, will be the most expensive midfield purchase in world football history for his age bracket. Chronicle Live understands the transfer fee will be paid up front in full with no add-ons.
The move will happen if Arsenal meet all of the demands put to them this week after initially lowballing the Magpies. United sources have made it clear that a medical was NEVER in place on Monday and only in the last 24 hours the deal has reached any type of positive outcome.
Valued at £60m by a series of market experts, Newcastle feel they will be getting a good price for the ex-Lyon star who cost them £38m four years ago.
It's a guaranteed £75m for Newcastle, and no milestones or triggers will be needed to get full fee. The deal also means Newcastle can reinvest quickly back into the squad.
A number of replacements have already been identified with Newcastle knowing they need to add some extra experience to Jaiisle's ranks to fill the gap created by their captain's exit.
Newcastle also wanted to turn the page on Bruno before Jaissle settles into the job after previous boss Eddie Howe spent 16 Press conferences dealing with Alexander Isak questions ahead of his painful £125m exit to Liverpool. The Magpies were keen to avoid a repeat of that saga which derailed last summer's window.
Chronicle Live has learned the full details of Arsenal's eventual willingness to come to the table and talk to Toon chiefs this week.
Before Monday, when the first formal offer was rejected swiftly, Arsenal had only worked through intermediaries, much to the frustration of the United fanbase.
It is understood that a series of verbal offers were turned down and that Arsenal's original valuation and first 'bid' for Bruno was a paltry £45m with £10m add ons.
Since then, Newcastle have managed to drive the price up by another £30m in a deal in which Arsenal were effectively bidding against themselves in a one-horse race.
While the eventual fee will fall short of the £80m that they had been looking for, those inside St James' Park concluded that it was as good as they were going to achieve in the market and have decided to conclude a deal with the Gunners.
CEO David Hopkinson said earlier this year: "If an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms. We're going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club."
Guimaraes' exit hadn't been on the cards for United this summer, unlike the sales of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon which were expected.