Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal switch phrases ‘agreed’ as Newcastle star gamers depart one after the other
Things look bleak for Newcastle United as the club’s biggest names and best players continue to leave the club in a transfer exodus.
Magpies fans heralded the beginning of an ambitious new era when a Saudi Arabian-backed £305m takeover in 2021 finally rid them of unpopular owner Mike Ashley, after 14 years of frustration during his time as owner. It was thought Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which provided 80% of funds for the deal and had assets of £250bn, would enable the Toon to start competing at the top of the Premier League and to compete for major trophies.
Under a bright young English manager, Eddie Howe, Newcastle began to revamp their squad, qualified for the Champions League and reached two League Cup finals, losing the first of those to Manchester United in 2023. Then came the day fans had waited more than half a century for, as Newcastle lifting a major trophy for the first time since 1969 with a deserved 2-1 Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool at Wembley in 2025.
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But cracks have started to show in the project, and last year the Magpies ended up 12th in the Premier League, missing out on European competition entirely. Howe, 48, has faced considerable scrutiny and now club captain Bruno Guimaraes is said to want to leave, with suggestions in some reports that he harbours reservations about Newcastle’s sporting direction and the departures of key team-mates, that have caused him to question his future.
There were worrying signs when Newcastle let hugely talented homegrown star Elliot Anderson join Nottingham Forest for just £20m in 2024, to urgently comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and avoid a likely points deduction.
He has since gone on to become an England superstar at the World Cup and to sign for Manchester City in a whopping £116m deal, but Newcastle were unable to negotiate a sell-on clause with Forest so did not benefit at all from the Citizens’ mega-money swoop.
Last summer, the Toon’s prized striker and fan favourite Alexander Isak went on strike to force through a move to then Premier League champions Liverpool. Newcastle’s reluctance to sell the Swedish goal machine was understandable, but cost both clubs on the pitch, as the £125m move wasn’t completed until deadline day.
Newcastle were left scrambling around trying to find a suitable replacement, bringing in flops Nick Woltemade for £45m and Yoane Wissa for £55m at the eleventh hour, while Isak arrived at Liverpool unfit having had no pre-season and also failed to deliver in his injury-hit first season at Anfield.
The Magpies are said to have previously tried to offload England winger Anthony Gordon to Liverpool for around £75m in their battle to comply with PSR in 2024. Gordon remained in the North East and last season bagged 17 goals in 46 appearances.
However, in June the pace merchant penned a five-year deal in a move to Spanish heavyweights Barcelona that netted Newcastle a fee of £69.3million.
That was followed by midfield lynchpin Sandro Tonali moving to Tottenham in a bumper £100million deal. Spurs agreed to pay an upfront fee of £92.5m for Tonali, plus a further £7.5m in potential add-ons contingent on multiple Champions League qualifications.
The Italian international joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023 and the club stuck by him when he was banned from playing for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for previously breaching betting rules. But he became a key player on his return and helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in 2025 – their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
Now it appears Guimaraes is the latest Magpies star to seek a move in search of major trophies at a bigger club. The Brazil ace has asked to leave Newcastle, having arrived from Lyon in 2022 and become a Toon hero.
It’s thought the Gunners are willing to pay around £60m for the midfielder, but Newcastle are briefing that they remain determined to hold onto him.
Arsenal have reportedly struck an agreement over personal terms with Guimaraes ahead of a summer move. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says Guimaraes “will not create problems” like Isak if Arsenal cannot agree a fee with Newcastle.
He said: “My understanding is on player side, Bruno Guimaraes wants to go to Arsenal, Bruno Guimaraes has clear desire to go to Arsenal, and personal terms would not be an issue. Then Bruno Guimaraes, from what I understand, didn’t tell Newcastle something in Alexander Isak story style like one year ago – sell me or I am not going to stay here. Bruno Guimaraes wants to be respectful with Newcastle.”
He added: “My understanding, sources involved and close to the story say that a transfer fee maybe around £90m could be the beginning of the discussion.”
It seems clear that Newcastle’s best players are no longer convinced by the Saudi Arabian project.
