Sources: Newcastle to accept £80m+ Bruno Guimaraes offer from Arsenal
Newcastle United are likely to accept an Arsenal bid for Bruno Guimaraes that exceeds the £80million mark, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners' desire to sign the 28-year-old has been clear for much of this summer, with most negotiations taking place through intermediaries.
An official £70m bid appears to have been rejected, with further talks planned for the coming days.
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.
Football Insider revealed last Friday that Arsenal are "confident" of agreeing a deal for Guimaraes, with former Premier League chief executive Keith Wyness telling this site that the deal "will go through".
A decision was already made on both Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, who have been allowed to leave the club for fair fees.
Guimaraes will now expect Newcastle to take a similar approach in his situation, or risk a repeat of the Alexander Isak saga.
Bruno Guimaraes update provided
Arsenal's interest in Guimaraes is long-standing. The Brazilian was among their targets before he moved to Lyon in 2020.
The Gunners wanted him before he went to Newcastle, too, but were ultimately unable to stump up the cash and he has been untouchable since. Until now.
The Magpies' struggles last season have placed them facing a difficult crossroads in their project.
The departure of Guimaraes and company will undoubtedly signal the end of the era that started with the Saudi takeover in 2021, but it could also unveil a new dawn.
For the 28-year-old, time is ticking on his career. Moves such as one to the champions of England do not typically happen to players on the verge of their early 30s.
Guimaraes' desire to leave is one of sporting ambition - if he does not leave this summer, he may well never challenge for the Premier League or the Champions League.
"My understanding of the situation and my feeling is that if an offer comes in starting with an eight, and probably about £85m, I think Newcastle have got a problem," Keith Downie told his YouTube channel.
"Obviously Bruno would know that's what the offer is and he said: 'Look, if you get a good offer, an acceptable offer, I'd like you to listen to it.'
"I think they might have a problem. If it's £50m, £60m, £70m, I think he understands that he stays and he'll crack on like the professional he is, but the issue Newcastle are going to have is if the offer comes in and it's big."
What has Eddie Howe said about Guimaraes?
Newcastle fans may have seen shades of the Isak situation when Eddie Howe was asked about Guimaraes' future.
Throughout the Swede's efforts to leave, the Englishman never appeared confident that he may stay this summer.
And with fears over Guimaraes' future growing, fans of the Magpies may have hoped to see their manager come out swinging when asked to comment for the first time.
Instead, speaking to Sky Sports, Howe said: "Look, I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. That's for other people to speculate about, but also conversations I'm not a part of."