Former Newcastle and England winger Chris Waddle has urged Arsenal to abandon their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, questioning the logic behind a potential £60 million deal for the 28-year-old Brazilian.
Arsenal's interest and Newcastle's valuation
Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, made a shock approach for Guimaraes last month with a £45 million verbal offer that was rejected by Newcastle. The Gunners were expected to return with an improved bid in the region of £60 million, especially after reports indicated that Guimaraes had informed Newcastle of his desire to move to north London. However, Newcastle are holding out for around £100 million to sanction his exit, leading Arsenal to have second thoughts.
Guimaraes has been a key figure at St James' Park since his £40 million move from Lyon in 2022, helping Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup. However, after Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, the 28-year-old is reportedly keen on a summer switch.
Waddle's criticism of the potential deal
Speaking to 10bet, Waddle expressed surprise at Arsenal's interest. 'I don’t get Arsenal. They’ve got a big squad as it is, and I just don’t understand why they keep getting linked with these players,' he said. 'Mind you, it could just be his agent pushing stories. I’m surprised Arsenal are linked with him. He’s nearly 30 and he’s going to want at least a four-year contract, so I don’t see where that story has come from.'
Waddle highlighted the financial risks of signing a player approaching 30 for a significant fee. 'You don’t want to pay £50m, £60m, or £70m for someone you’re not going to get anything back on. It will be interesting to see what happens,' he added.
Guimaraes' World Cup performance and future
Guimaraes represented Brazil at the World Cup, where they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Norway. Waddle noted that the tournament could serve as a shop window for the midfielder. 'For a lot of players, a World Cup is a shop window. I think he’s done okay, though I wasn’t that impressed with Brazil, to be honest,' Waddle said. 'He has a great engine, he’s tidy, and he keeps the ball well. I can see why he fits into a lot of teams.'
With around two years left on his Newcastle contract, Guimaraes may be seeking a long-term deal elsewhere. 'He might be looking for a four-year contract somewhere else – probably the last biggest pay day of what is left in his career,' Waddle said. 'Unless Newcastle upgrade his contract, you could see him leaving. I’m sure clubs are interested, but because he has two years left, Newcastle can demand a hefty price. That might stop a lot of clubs because they’ll question if he’s worth that much money. If Newcastle are looking for £50m or £60m, there are not going to be many clubs that will pay that for a player his age.'
