Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes has told the club he wants to join Arsenal, it has been confirmed to Sky Sports News.
Newcastle are not making any comment on the situation, and Sky Sports News understands Arsenal have made no contact with them over the availability of the midfielder.
However, it is understood the conditions of a deal for the 28-year-old have been explored via intermediaries.
Guimaraes has two years left on his Newcastle contract, with a year’s option to extend to the summer of 2029.
Newcastle have no interest in selling the Brazil international.
Their stance has been consistent all summer – they insist their captain is not for sale and they are not welcoming any bids.
Could Guimaraes become latest key player star to leave Toon?
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Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from Lyon for £35m in January 2022, has become one of the key players in the club’s return to prominence after their Saudi-backed owners completed a takeover in October 2021.
However, Newcastle have no desire to see their captain follow star forwards Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, and fellow midfielder Sandro Tonali, out of the door.
Guimaraes, who missed a penalty as Brazil went out of the World Cup against Norway in the last 16, has established himself as a huge crowd favourite and was the man who lifted the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years when he led them to Carabao Cup glory two seasons ago.
Toon boss Eddie Howe will be desperate to retain one of his most important players and will not want a repeat of the saga which saw Isak force a £130m switch to Liverpool last summer after going on strike.
The sales of Gordon to Barcelona (£69.3m) and Tonali to Tottenham (£100m) for a combined total of around £169.3m has significantly boosted Newcastle’s ability to meet spending rules, but a further high-profile departure would spark another major rebuilding project.
Howe’s side suffered last season after their efforts to replace Isak hampered them throughout a disappointing domestic campaign which saw them eventually finish in 12th place in the Premier League table.
