football.london spoke to Newcastle reporter Lee Ryder to get all the latest on Arsenal’s interest in Bruno Guimaraes
Arsenal are keen on signing Bruno Guimaraes, football.london understands. The Brazilian midfielder has been a star for his nation at the World Cup, even assisting a potential future Gunners teammate in Gabriel Martinelli in the 95th-minute against Japan.
However, as the summer tournament rolls on, the transfer drama is also ramping up with Guimaraes at its centre. football.london caught up with Lee Ryder , chief Newcastle reporter at our sister site The Chronicle in the North East, to discuss all the latest on the midfielder.
Speaking on the Seeing Red podcast, Ryder told Tom Canton all the latest on the move. Kicking off with recent developments regarding the UEFA fine that has come the Magpies’ way. The £8.6million fine, of which £6million has been suspended for three years, has raised eyebrows, and Ryder gave his reaction and his thoughts on how it could affect spending and sales.
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“It was certainly expected,” Ryder explained. “I think I’ve written a few times that the fine is in the post, as they say. That came through yesterday, and it could have been worse by the look of it compared to what other teams have been hit with.
“Does it affect Newcastle’s spending? I guess, it just shows you that they’ve got to be careful that these rules… they are real, they have got teeth, and if you don’t stick to them, then you’re going to fall foul of the UEFA rulebook.
“So I think it’s just kind of give them a little fright, if that makes sense, and they’re now going to have to cut their cloth accordingly.”
Whether it has any impact on the potential deal for Guimaraes, however, remains to be seen. football.london understands interest in the player has been known of since Mikel Arteta’s first summer in charge in 2020, when the Brazilian was at Atletico Paranaense in his home country.
Ryder explained the full context of the present-day situation regarding Guimaraes. It is evident this could be a deal which drags on, considering the stance of both clubs.
“Yes, so from a starting point, Newcastle’s stance has been that they don’t want to sell the club captain. He’s obviously the most important player at the club, very popular, and commercially important as well, because of shirt sales.
“But I think from Bruno’s point of view, it feels to me like he’s concerned about the direction Newcastle have gone in, they didn’t build on winning the Carabao Cup, finished 12th last season, which is just unacceptable at the best of times for an ambitious Premier League club.
“So I think there’s concern from him and his camp. I think there’s always been interest from Arsenal. I think Newcastle actually snuck in there and got him when Arsenal were probably thinking about getting him that summer [2022].
“We got him in the January and then the rest is history. But I don’t think that Arsenal’s interest ever went away. Yes, I’m also hearing that there was a sort of verbal proposal of £45million that was dismissed via third parties.
“And now it’s about whether they can come back with more. We’re told £65million could be the tipping point, could be some kind of verbal agreement between Bruno and his people. And if Arsenal do turn that into an official bid, then the wheels might start moving on it.”
