Guimaraes

Bruno Guimaraes looks set to move to Premier League champions Arsenal, but Newcastle say they did not want to sell.

Newcastle United did ‌not want to sell captain Bruno Guimaraes, sporting director Ross ⁠Wilson has said, after reports linked the Brazil midfielder with a move to Arsenal.

British media reported on Wednesday that Arsenal had ⁠agreed a deal worth 75 million pounds ($101m) for the 28-year-old. Neither club has confirmed the reported transfer.

“We didn’t want to sell Bruno. It wasn’t in the plan to sell Bruno. None of us – or ownership – wanted to sell Bruno,” Wilson told reporters at Newcastle’s preseason training camp in Spain.

“He’s our captain, he ‌was very important to us, and the debate over his price – it’s a world-record fee for a player of his age.

“What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on.”

Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from French ⁠side Olympique Lyonnais in January 2022, has made ⁠195 appearances in all competitions and scored 31 goals for the Premier League club.

He captained Newcastle to League Cup glory in 2025, ending the club’s long wait for domestic ⁠silverware.

“There’s no part in saying (the transfer) was part of our strategy and was in our thinking ⁠this summer – it wasn’t. But we have ⁠got to be flexible and react to things that happen,” Wilson said.

“It might have been in our plan to sign one player, but we didn’t get him so we move ‌on to another. We can only be honest about that.”

Guimaraes’s exit would be another setback for Newcastle following the departures of Anthony Gordon, ‌Sandro ‌Tonali and manager Eddie Howe.

Newcastle begin their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 23.

Tottenham make an approach for Victor Osimhen, Atletico Madrid consider a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has positive talks with Spurs.

Tottenham have made an initial approach worth up to £55m for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, 27, but the Turkish champions are looking for closer to £65m for the Nigerian. (Caught Offside), external

Newcastle and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, is set to have a medical at Arsenal in a deal that will be worth nearly £80m. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with Everton and Aston Villa also exploring a bid for the 30-year-old Englishman. (Sun), external

Tottenham have held positive talks with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but the Reds have no intention of selling the 26-year-old Dutchman. (Teamtalk), external

Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, 24, has completed a medical and is set to join Newcastle after the Czech Republic international’s release clause of £25.7m was met. (Mail – subscription required), external

Hull City are close to an agreement to sign Nice striker Mohamed-Ali Cho, 22, with a transfer fee of about £17m set to secure the French forward. (L’, externalEquipe), external

Chelsea have submitted an improved offer for left-back Pep Chavarria, 28, after Rayo Vallecano responded to the Blues’ opening bid of £12.8m by asking for £21.4m for the Spaniard. (Teamtalk), external

Hull City are close to signing Australia defender Lucas Herrington, 18, from MLS side Colorado Rapids for £17m. (Sun), external

Real Madrid duo Gonzalo Garcia, 22, and Cesar Palacios, 21, have been having medicals with Fulham after an agreement over permanent moves for the Spanish striker and midfielder were agreed. (Sky Sports), external

Hull City are set to beat Rangers and Cardiff City to sign Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, 20, from Tromso. (Mail – subscription required), external

Aston Villa assess Pervis Estupinan, Bruno Guimaraes is not for sale, Inter Milan give up on signing Trevoh Chalobah.

AC Milan’s Ecuador left-back Pervis Estupinan, 28, is one of the targets being assessed by Aston Villa. (Mail), external

Bruno Guimaraes is viewed as not being for sale by Newcastle, despite rumours of Arsenal thinking they could get the 28-year-old Brazil midfielder for £50m. (Newcastle Chronicle), external

Inter Milan have given up on signing England defender Trevoh Chalobah as they cannot afford Chelsea‘s asking price of £30m, but Como are still interested in the 27-year-old. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Chelsea are set make an offer which could reach £21m for Rayo Vallecano‘s Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria, 28. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Roma have had an offer of 40m euros rejected by Atletico Madrid for 25-year-old Manu Kone. Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested in the France defender. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Aston Villa, Leeds United, Sunderland, Fulham and Brighton are all interested in 20-year-old Sweden and Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji. (Sport via Sport Witness), external

Hull City and Southampton are interested in German Werder Bremen forward Justin Nijnmah, 25. (Bild – in German), external

Thomas Schjelderup’s performances for Norway at the World Cup have increased Benfica‘s asking price for the 22-year-old winger to £43m. Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in him. (A Bola – in Portuguese), external

Sporting, Wolves and Southampton have all had approaches turned down for Tottenham‘s 21-year-old striker Will Lankshear. He has represented England at youth level and spent last season on loan at Oxford United. (Football.London), external

Barcelona are open to selling Spain midfielder Ferran Torres, 26, to avoid having to pay his former club Manchester City about £7m if they extend his contract. (Athletic – subscription required), external

A vision was set out to Guimaraes when he joined a club fighting relegation.

Newcastle‘s hierarchy at the time said they did not just want to go on to qualify for the Champions League – they ultimately wanted to win it.

Newcastle have twice since sat at Europe’s top table, but they are a long way off from taking that next step.

It was rather telling that Isak pushed hard to move to Liverpool, even after Newcastle secured Champions League football in 2025.

As much as Liverpool were able to offer Isak a huge wage increase, because of far superior revenues, the Swede also wanted to compete to win the biggest trophies.

Guimaraes appears to face a similar dilemma further on in his career following a bruising domestic season for Newcastle, who finished 12th in the Premier League.

Arsenal have yet to make contact with Newcastle, who do not want to lose the Brazilian, but does Guimaraes feel this is potentially the last chance he would have to win a Premier League title or the Champions League if they do come to the table?

As loved as Guimaraes is on Tyneside, does the 28-year-old have the patience to help lead a new era at Newcastle with a young group who will take time to flourish?

Newcastle had previously managed to keep hold of their most important players, but the side who made history by ending a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy in 2025 has broken up.

Of the 26 players pictured in a jubilant team photograph after the EFL Cup final win against Liverpool, 11 have left the club.

Some changes were overdue, yet there is also a delicate balance to strike.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe touched upon this in one of his final news conferences of last season when he warned “the squad can’t get weaker”.

The squad, as it is now, has clear gaps, but Newcastle are understood to have made progress on a move for exciting Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi.

Newcastle have also completed the signings of winger Bazoumana Toure, midfielder Sean Steur and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.

Turning to younger players from European clubs is a strategy others have adopted successfully.

Bournemouth, who finished sixth last season, have shown how clubs can recover from the loss of key players with the help of smart recruitment and good coaching.

But experience is needed, too, and Guimaraes is priceless to Newcastle in that regard. Losing him would mean the whole project is called into question.