Guimaraes Joins Pre-Season Camp
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has arrived in La Manga, Spain, to join his team’s pre-season training camp. The midfielder departed Brazil on Sunday and was expected to arrive on Monday, in line with an agreement made with the club. His arrival sees him link up with the squad under new boss Matthias Jaissle, who is set to replace Eddie Howe.
Guimaraes had previously informed Newcastle bosses last month of his desire to join Arsenal. Despite this, he is now with the team in Spain, where Jaissle reportedly wishes to meet with the captain.
Transfer Speculation Continues
Arsenal has been exploring the conditions of a potential deal for Guimaraes through intermediaries in recent weeks. However, Newcastle has stated that there has been no direct club-to-club contact regarding the transfer of their captain, despite various reports suggesting otherwise. The club has expressed puzzlement over these contrary reports.
Guimaraes has reportedly communicated to Newcastle that he wishes to move to the Premier League champions if an acceptable offer is made. Newcastle, however, aims for their captain to remain with the club. The Brazil international currently has two years remaining on his contract, which also includes a club-held option for an additional year.
Reports on Saturday evening had suggested that Newcastle had accepted an £80m bid from Arsenal for Guimaraes, and that a medical had been arranged for Monday. However, sources close to Newcastle were reportedly mystified by these claims, reiterating that no formal bid had been received.
Managerial Change and Player Sentiments
The arrival of Guimaraes at the pre-season camp follows the resignation of former head coach Eddie Howe. Guimaraes had previously praised Howe, referring to him as the ‘king of this club’ after his departure. In an Instagram post, Guimaraes expressed his gratitude, stating, “King of this club!! Thanks for everything you’ve done for us. I loved enjoying our time together. Thanks for making me a better player and person! No words I can say will really say how much I enjoyed being our player. Wish you all the very best in your future, gaffer.”
Howe’s resignation occurred amidst Arsenal’s ongoing interest in Guimaraes. The midfielder’s strong sentiments towards his former manager highlight the personal connections within the club, even as transfer speculation continues.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is also reportedly targeting other players, including Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, with a transfer for the Brazilian winger now considered a possibility after his contract talks stalled in Spain. To facilitate potential significant deals, which could involve fees near or exceeding £100m, Arsenal may need to sell some players. Christian Norgaard is reportedly set to leave after a single season at the Emirates, with Everton as his next potential destination.
Additionally, Myles Lewis-Skelly could be another notable sale, as Manchester United is exploring options to bring the defender to Old Trafford. United’s aim includes securing a left-back, with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall also being considered. However, acquiring Hall might prove more challenging given the recent sale of Sandro Tonali and the potential departure of Guimaraes from St. James’ Park this window.
Other Transfer Market Activity
In other transfer news, Chelsea has announced the signing of Danny Welbeck, with Jordan Henderson expected to follow. Mohamed Salah also appears to have found a new club after leaving Liverpool on a free transfer. Hull City is reportedly close to signing Benfica striker Franjo Ivanovic, with talks progressing for a deal that would likely see the Croatia forward join initially on loan.
Juventus has ended its pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez due to a reported gap in valuation. The club is now exploring a loan deal for Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario. Juventus had also considered a deal for Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki but faces competition from Paris Saint-Germain, which could make the costs prohibitive.
Tottenham is reportedly interested in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, with manager Roberto de Zerbi seeking another wide attacker. However, Liverpool is unlikely to let Gakpo leave without a replacement, and Gakpo has four years remaining on his deal with the Reds, suggesting a potentially high transfer fee would be required. Cristian Romero is also expected to leave Tottenham this summer, with interest from Italy and Spain, including Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. Despite signing a new deal and being made captain only a year ago, a summer exit would not be a surprise for Romero.
Tottenham’s young attacker Mikey Moore is poised for a loan move, with German side Koln reportedly leading the race for his signature. This decision comes despite the 18-year-old’s promising pre-season performances, as all parties agree a temporary spell elsewhere would benefit his development. Roberto De Zerbi has also expressed uncertainty regarding Richarlison’s future at Tottenham, noting that the player has given mixed signals about whether he wants to stay or leave.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, becoming the first football association to do so following his attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Source: skysports.com
