Arsenal remain at the front of the queue for the 28-year-old, and we can confirm there has been club-to-club contact over a potential deal in recent days, and sources confirm things are moving forward with the Gunners remaining confident a deal will be done.
Arsenal are now said to be ready for club to club talks after agreeing personal terms with Bruno Guimaraes. Transfer guru Romano has now reported that Arsenal plan to hold talks with Newcastle over the 28-year-old next week, having already reached an agreement in personal terms with the Brazilian star. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are now ready to push ahead in a bid to strike a deal, but it will all come down to price. "Arsenal set for new club to club contacts next week for Bruno Guimarães deal. Personal terms in place and new approach with Newcastle anticipated to proceed + £70m proposal expected to be improved. Deal depends on #NUFC decision on exit/price."
Newcastle United are likely to accept an Arsenal bid for Bruno Guimaraes that exceeds the £80million mark, sources have told Football Insider. Newcastle sources also indicate a £70m bid would be rejected, but talkSPORT understands Arsenal are prepared to go higher than this reported number. Arsenal sources say that a deal can ultimately be struck for less than £80million, while Newcastle insist no formal written bid has yet been received, despite the Gunners believing they have effectively made three approaches, including verbal proposals.
Bruno Guimaraes has told his representatives that he wants his future resolved within the next week before he is due to report back for Newcastle United’s pre-season training camp in Spain, TEAMtalk understands, as Arsenal make contact with the Magpies. We understand that Guimaraes has no intention of forcing a move by refusing to report for duty.
Guimaraes still has two years left on his contract, and the Magpies are under no pressure to sell after losing two of their key players already. Following Sandro Tonali’s £100million move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer, Newcastle believe Guimaraes is arguably their most important player and feel any deal would need to be in a similar financial bracket. According to Football Insider, Newcastle do not want to sell their captain, Guimaraes, but are aware that he has asked to leave and that denying him his move means retaining an unhappy player.