Newcastle United set stance on summer Arsenal target | OneFootball

Newcastle United are adamant that they won’t sell Bruno Guimaraes unless his release clause is activated, which could rule out a deal entirely.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Newcastle United player Bruno Guimaraes applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Arsenal have been linked with Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes in recent months, but Luke Edwards of The Telegraph reports that Newcastle are adamant that they won’t be selling for less than the Brazil international’s release clause.

According to the report, that stance is unlikely to deter potential suitors from making bids anyway, in the hope that it unsettles Guimaraes.

Indeed, The Telegraph claim that speculation is likely to last all summer.

But Newcastle are expecting the player to stay for at least one more season, and sources insist they’re yet to receive any enquiries for him.

Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes reacts to their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 13, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

If Newcastle indeed hold out for Guimaraes’ release clause, you’d think that would rule out a transfer entirely.

David Ornstein recently reported that it’s not certain that Arsenal or any other club would see value in the player’s £100m clause, and the Gunners may not be interested at all if they decide to pursue an ‘8’ instead.

Guimaraes can play as a ‘6’ or an ‘8’, but both Arsenal and Newcastle see him more in the deeper role.

On top of all that, the release clause is only valid from the last week of May to the beginning of the last week of June. Once it expires, Newcastle may simply refuse to field any offers.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Newcastle player Bruno Guimaraes reacts after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Sam Dean – also of The Telegraph – had initially broken the news that Arsenal and Manchester City had made Guimaraes aware of their interest in him ahead of the summer transfer window, and that they were considering summer moves.

But even at the time, Dean added that the interested clubs were hoping to pay less than the release clause.