Arsenal is reportedly ready to drop around £70m for Bruno Guimaraes, with talks even suggesting the deal could hit £80m, but Newcastle United’s message is crystal clear: any offer in that range is going absolutely nowhere. The word from St James’ Park is that an Arsenal bid is “not welcome, not wanted and will not be accepted.” That’s not just talking, that’s a brick wall, folks.
Bruno Wants Out, Newcastle Still Firm
It’s no shocker that Mikel Arteta wants Guimaraes. The guy is one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders, seriously capable of controlling the game, winning those crucial duels, and just elevating the technical skill of any team around him. Arteta sees the 28-year-old as the perfect fit for Arsenal’s squad. And here’s the kicker: TeamTalk says Guimaraes himself has told Newcastle he wants to leave St James’ Park this summer, preferring to get things sorted before pre-season kicks off later this month. You’d think that would open the door a bit, right? Nope, it hasn’t changed Newcastle’s stance one bit. They still expect the Brazil international to report for summer preparations as normal, and there’s been no indication from the club that a line has been crossed.
The £100m Benchmark and Why Arsenal’s Offer Isn’t Close
The real issue here is simple: valuation. Newcastle isn’t playing around. They’ve already set a massive £100m benchmark for Sandro Tonali this summer, and get this, internally they believe Guimaraes is worth even more. So when Arsenal comes in with £70m to £80m? That’s not even getting them to the negotiating table. The report explicitly states Newcastle “have no intention of negotiating at Arsenal’s proposed valuation.” That line tells you everything you need to know. Admiration is cool, formal interest is a step, but a deal only becomes real when the selling club is actually willing to engage. Chelsea and Manchester City are apparently monitoring the situation too, with Chelsea watching closely to see if Newcastle softens its position. City is staying informed, even though they’ve been focusing their midfield spending elsewhere.
Guimaraes Won’t Force It, Giving Newcastle All the Power
Perhaps the most interesting detail in all this for Newcastle is Guimaraes’s reported approach. Even though he wants the move, he’s “no intention of forcing a move.” This isn’t one of those explosive transfer sagas where a player misses training or creates a huge scene. He’s staying calm about it. That leaves Arsenal in a tough spot, a problem familiar in today’s market: they want the player, the player is open to the move, but Newcastle holds the contract, they hold all the leverage, and right now, their asking price is way, way above anything Arsenal is talking about. So if Arsenal really wants their guy, they’re gonna have to dig a whole lot deeper into their pockets.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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