Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has confirmed that midfielder Bruno Guimaraes had decided to leave the club prior to their first meeting this summer. The Brazil international completed a £75 million transfer away from Newcastle, marking the highest-profile departure since Jaissle’s appointment.
Speaking at his inaugural press conference in La Manga, Spain, Jaissle described his brief discussion with Guimaraes as “a nice conversation” but acknowledged that the player’s mind was already made up. “He’s a fantastic player, so it’s tough,” Jaissle said. “We need to deal with it, and we trust the players that are here already. But we will also see some changes.”
Guimaraes’ exit contributes to a summer sales total of approximately £250 million for Newcastle. That influx of funds provides the club with scope to strengthen several areas of the squad before the transfer window closes. Jaissle indicated an urgent need for at least one full-back, as the current senior options in wide defensive positions are limited to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. Additionally, the departure of Guimaraes creates a vacancy in midfield, with the possibility of further reinforcements sought in that zone.
Though only a day into his role, Jaissle emphasized that he has already reviewed the squad’s composition and possesses a clear vision for the team’s future. He stressed the importance of evaluating the existing players’ performances before finalizing further transfer decisions. “I want to give them a chance to see if they can show up,” he said, referring to the new challenge posed by his arrival. “Not everyone will be happy, it’s normal in football, one or the other wants to leave as well, but again, we have time.”
Jaissle also confirmed ongoing communication with Newcastle’s sporting director about potential incomings. “We can wait. But we have the capacity to do something in the market,” he noted. He expects to see new signings once the season begins, indicating that transfer activity remains a priority behind the scenes.
On the prospect of additional departures, Jaissle declined to speculate. “It would be unfair to judge them now after one session,” he said. “First, let me come here and do the job, let’s work all together and then we’ll make the decisions.” The German coach’s comments signal a period of transition and adjustment as Newcastle prepares for the campaign ahead under new leadership.