Newcastle United have reaffirmed their position that midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is not for sale amid renewed interest from Arsenal. After weeks of speculation, Arsenal reportedly made a formal offer of around £75 million for the Brazilian player over the weekend, which Newcastle quickly rejected. The club is said to be seeking in excess of £80 million for Guimaraes, who has two years remaining on his contract.
The Magpies’ CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson are overseeing the situation and remain united in their decision to retain the club captain. Both executives are aware that selling Guimaraes could provoke unrest among Newcastle supporters, especially following recent high-profile departures including Alexander Isak’s transfer to Liverpool in 2025 and this summer’s sales of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100 million and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3 million.
Concerns had circulated that Guimaraes might refuse to return for pre-season training, replicating Isak’s previous stance, but the Brazilian midfielder joined the squad as scheduled. He followed agreed arrangements that allowed him to travel directly from South America to Spain after an extended holiday following the World Cup. Guimaraes arrived in Spain on a commercial flight before traveling to La Manga to link up with his teammates and newly appointed head coach Matthias Jaissle.
Insiders suggest that a “suitable bid” has yet to materialize, and Newcastle remain firm in their desire to hold onto the player amid Arsenal’s ongoing interest. The club’s Saudi-backed owners, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reportedly not directly involved in decisions related to player sales, leaving Hopkinson and Wilson as the key decision-makers.
In related news, Newcastle have secured the signing of goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from SC Braga after activating his £25.7 million release clause. Hornicek has committed to a five-year contract and described his move as “emotional,” expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to compete in the Premier League.
As the transfer window continues to develop, Newcastle appear determined to maintain core members of their squad while bringing in fresh talent under manager Matthias Jaissle’s guidance. The outcome of Arsenal’s interest in Guimaraes remains uncertain, with Newcastle’s stance appearing firm for now.