Newcastle United have expressed bewilderment over the manner in which Arsenal conducted their pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes, with the two clubs finally agreeing a £75 million deal for the Brazilian midfielder. The transfer, which has been in the works for weeks, is set to see Guimaraes undergo a medical this week as he prepares to join the Premier League champions.
Arsenal's indirect approach frustrates Newcastle
According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle were left confused by Arsenal's lack of direct contact throughout the negotiation process. The Magpies were initially adamant that Guimaraes was not for sale, but were forced to reconsider once the 28-year-old expressed his desire to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Downie explained: 'This started six weeks ago when intermediaries, essentially middle men, contacted Newcastle and asked if Bruno Guimaraes would be available and could he go to Arsenal. It was around about then that Bruno Guimaraes intimated that he would be willing to speak to Arsenal and would be up for moving to the Premier League champions.'
'I think what perplexed Newcastle over the last five or six weeks is the way Arsenal have gone about things. There was no direct contact, no formal offer, everything was played out through intermediaries and that really confused Newcastle to an extent.'
Guimaraes' impact at Newcastle
Guimaraes has been a transformative figure at St James' Park since his £40 million move from Lyon in 2022. During his tenure, he helped Newcastle secure Champions League qualification and clinch the Carabao Cup, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most influential midfielders.
His departure marks a significant loss for Newcastle, but the club has already generated substantial funds this summer. Combined with the sales of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, Newcastle have brought in £245 million in transfer fees, providing ample resources for reinforcements.
'He will be a real big miss to this football club but it does leave Newcastle with money to spend in this transfer window, having now brought in £245m for Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes combined,' Downie added.
Arsenal's busy summer continues
Guimaraes will become Arsenal's third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of winger Christos Tzolis and back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The Gunners are also reportedly working on a sensational deal for Guimaraes' Brazil teammate Vinicius Junior, who is embroiled in a contract dispute with Real Madrid.
Speaking after Arsenal's first pre-season friendly last week, manager Mikel Arteta indicated that the club would remain active in the transfer market. 'We are really active trying to improve and evolve the team; that's clear,' Arteta said. 'We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously. We want to get better like anybody else, and you just can see the transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing.'
'We won't sit still and we are very ambitious with what we are doing,' he added.
Implications for the Premier League title race
Guimaraes' arrival at Arsenal is expected to bolster their midfield as they aim to defend their Premier League title and go one step further in the Champions League, having reached the final last season. The Brazilian's ability to dictate play and break up opposition attacks will be crucial in Arteta's system.
For Newcastle, the sale represents a strategic financial decision, but it also raises questions about their ambitions. With significant funds now available, manager Eddie Howe will be expected to reinvest wisely to maintain the club's upward trajectory.
The transfer saga, which has dragged on for over a month, finally appears to be reaching its conclusion. Guimaraes is set to join his new teammates in the coming days, with the medical scheduled to take place this week.
