Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes’ Arsenal move decision made before Jaissle meeting
Guimaraes’ Departure and Managerial Transition
Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has stated that the decision regarding Bruno Guimaraes’ future was already finalised before their initial meeting. Arsenal is reportedly close to completing a £75m transfer for the midfielder following progress in discussions. Jaissle briefly met with Guimaraes at the club’s training camp in Spain recently, after which the 28-year-old reportedly bid farewell to his teammates and club staff.
Jaissle, in his first interaction with reporters since becoming head coach, described the conversation as pleasant, acknowledging Guimaraes as a fantastic player and individual. He noted that while it is a challenging situation, it represents a new chapter for Guimaraes, and the club will address the impact at a later stage. Jaissle expressed confidence in the current squad and anticipated further changes.
Guimaraes is expected to be the fourth significant player to depart Newcastle within a year. Earlier in the transfer window, Anthony Gordon moved to Barcelona, and Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur. Last summer, Alexander Isak transferred to Liverpool.
Club Rebuild and New Signings
Despite the departures, Jaissle views the club’s rebuilding phase as an opportunity to establish a new cycle and cultivate a youthful, ambitious team, succeeding former manager Eddie Howe. He acknowledged the transitions and the departure of several key players, including club legends, but emphasised seeing it as a chance for progress. Jaissle highlighted the importance of focusing on controllable aspects to ensure progress this season.
Jaissle has been concentrating on coaching the existing players, while Newcastle continues to work on additional signings before the season commences. The club has reportedly shifted its transfer strategy this summer, focusing on acquiring younger players from continental Europe. Lukas Hornicek, at 24 years of age, is noted as the oldest arrival among the recent acquisitions.
To date, Newcastle has reportedly spent approximately £146m on five new players. These include goalkeepers Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, and winger Bazoumana Toure. None of these five players, nor Jaissle himself, have prior experience in the Premier League.
Jaissle, who is 38 years old, is reportedly enthusiastic about the upcoming challenge, having previously achieved success in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli and in Austria with RB Salzburg. He acknowledged that managing in the Premier League is a new experience for him but expressed that everyone dreams of being part of it.
Guimaraes’ Move to Arsenal
Arsenal has reportedly reached an agreement with Newcastle for their captain, Bruno Guimaraes, with a fee of £75m. Guimaraes has been granted permission to travel for a medical examination. Reports indicate that Guimaraes informed Newcastle officials earlier in the summer of his desire to join Arsenal if a suitable offer was made. While Arsenal’s initial bid was rejected, the 28-year-old is now expected to join the Premier League champions.
Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle in 2022 from Lyon for £40m, has made 195 appearances for the club, scoring 31 goals. He had two years remaining on his contract, with the club holding an option for a third year. Newcastle had aimed to retain Guimaraes, but if the deal proceeds as anticipated, the club will have generated over £240m from player sales this summer. This figure includes Anthony Gordon’s £69.3m move to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali’s £100m transfer to Spurs.
Newcastle was reportedly keen to keep Guimaraes, and would have rejected offers if he had expressed a desire to stay. Efforts to persuade him to remain were made, and positive discussions took place, but he was reportedly firm in his wish to leave, believing it represented his last significant opportunity to win titles. The transfer was contingent on Guimaraes wanting to leave and Newcastle selling on their terms, similar to the deals for Tonali and Gordon. The club insisted on their valuation for the player, aiming for a fee that would be among the highest paid for a player aged 28 or over.
The deal was also conditional on it being handled appropriately, which included Guimaraes attending Newcastle’s training camp in Spain. Newcastle reportedly feels Guimaraes complied with their requirements, avoiding a situation similar to Alexander Isak’s departure, where he reportedly refused to train before joining Liverpool last summer. Agents were involved from the outset, but Newcastle reportedly resisted initial offers in the range of £40-£45m in June. Newcastle reportedly felt Arsenal prolonged the transfer by not contacting them for several weeks. Despite this, Newcastle maintains that there have been no disputes, and good relations persist between the player and the club.
The upcoming season for Newcastle is set to begin on 23 August with a match against Liverpool at St James’ Park.
Source: bbc.com
Priya Menon 