The future of Bruno Guimaraes is set to be one of the current summer transfer window’s major sagas, as Newcastle United fight to keep their captain at the club.
The Brazilian has been the subject of transfer interest from Arsenal, amid reports that the Premier League champions are readying an offer for the Brazil international.
With the World Cup now over and players returning to their clubs for pre-season, all parties will now focus on getting the situation resolved, and that would appear to be the case from Guimaraes’ end.
Guimaraes wants future resolved
Arsenal’s interest in the 28-year-old has been well documented in recent weeks, with the BBC claiming that the Gunners were ready to make a £70million offer for the midfielder, with the player himself said to be keen on the move.
Newcastle do not want to lose their talisman after seeing Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali leave for Barcelona and Tottenham respectively this summer, with the player himself now reportedly setting an ultimatum.
According to TEAMtalk, Guimaraes has instructed his representatives to resolve his future ‘within the next week’ before he is due to return to Newcastle for pre-season training.
Guimaraes is due back with the Magpies for a pre-season training camp in Spain following an extended break following his World Cup exploits with Brazil, where he played in all five of the Selecao’s games on the way to the round of 16, where they lost to Norway, providing four assists on the way.
The Magpies take on Bristol City on Wednesday, before they head to Spain for a warm-weather training camp and a friendly against Valencia, with the report adding that the midfielder wants clarity before he links up with the squad.
While reports suggest that the former Lyon man is keen to join Arsenal, the main sticking point for any potential deal will be the two clubs’ valuation of the 48-time Brazil international.
After seeing Tonali leave the club for £100million, Eddie Howe is said to believe his skipper would be in the same price bracket, while this latest report adds that Guimaraes has no intention of refusing to report for duty in an effort to force a move.
Instead, his representatives are now looking to get Arsenal to step up their interest and present the Magpies with an offer that they cannot turn down.
In FourFourTwo’s view, Guimaraes, who is valued at €85million by Transfermarkt, is doing the right thing in looking to ensure that this situation is wrapped up and speculation does not linger over his pre-season preparations.
The coming days are likely to be vital in this transfer saga, with Arsenal knowing that they won't be able to stand still following their title win, while Newcastle’s previous dealings in the current window set a benchmark for the kind of offer the Gunners need to make.
