Newcastle United face the prospect of another summer-long transfer saga after Bruno Guimaraes’ representatives told the club he wants to move to Arsenal.
Guimaraes, who expected to move to Manchester City two years ago when Newcastle were actively sourcing sales to comply with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), is understood to be unsettled in the face of interest from the Premier League champions.
But The i Paper has been told that Newcastle view the latest developments as agent-driven and are maintaining their stance that they would not welcome any bids for the player. As of yet there has been no contact from Arsenal and Newcastle believe there is “no decision to make” on Guimaraes’ future.
And insiders said talk of a £60m deal for the Brazil midfielder is “laughable”. They believe his pedigree would demand a fee equivalent to Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson, who were valued at £100m and £115m respectively.
Nevertheless it represents an unwelcome development in a summer of transition at St James’ Park. While the club telegraphed the sales of Tonali and Anthony Gordon, who left before the World Cup in an £80m switch to Barcelona, and required both to comply with financial fair play rules and give themselves more spending power for the planned summer overhaul of a squad that has gone stale, they do not want to lose Guimaraes.
Not only is he viewed as a talisman within the dressing room he is also an important player for the way Newcastle play. A brutal dip in form last season – which laid the foundations for much of the change coming this summer – coincided with Guimaraes being out through injury.
Newcastle’s summer plans
It would also raise fresh questions about how realistic Newcastle’s ambition under the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is. The club’s CEO David Hopkinson talked of competing for major trophies by 2030 but there is an unmistakeable pivot towards players of potential and lowering the age of the squad, with a £20m move for promising Ajax teenager Sean Steur in the final stages.
Perhaps understandably Guimaraes, who was sold a different vision of competing for league titles and being regulars in the Champions League, has had his head turned by talk of Arsenal’s interest.
Newcastle’s view is that they are building a fresher, younger team that will enable Eddie Howe to push for European qualification again. They are pushing hard to try and sign Switzerland international Johan Manzambi – although the Freiburg star has other interest and Newcastle sources are remaining cautious amid optimism that he wants to join.
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Interestingly Lewis Miley, who was secured to a long-term contract earlier in the summer, is set to take a prominent first team role next season with Newcastle sources believing he is ready for a breakthrough season.
They retain an interest in Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara – although nothing is imminent on that front – and are understood to have other “exciting targets” who are yet to emerge. They believe that a move for James Trafford, who is away on England duty, is also possible.
But the rebuild would be undermined by the departure of Guimaraes, who is a crucial part of the dressing dynamic.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/rnjKCq8
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