New Bruno Guimaraes plan revealed with Arsenal transfer agreement close | OneFootball

Gunners are optimistic of finalising move for Newcastle captain after long saga

Standard Sport understands that a deal worth between £75million to £80m to take the Brazil midfielder to north London is close to being finalised after a long summer saga.

French publication L’Equipe reported on Friday morning that a deal worth €90m (£77m) for Guimaraes had been agreed, though that was denied by sources close to Newcastle.

It had previously been reported in some quarters that Guimaraes would report back to Newcastle on Friday following an extended post-World Cup break as they travel to Spain for a pre-season training camp in La Manga.

However, The Chronicle claim that the influential Magpies captain will fly out on Sunday instead, ready to begin training on Monday.

They say he was given the option to either travel with the squad from Tyneside on Friday or make the journey from South America ready to train for Monday, evidently choosing the latter option.

It remains to be seen at this stage if Arsenal can wrap up a deal for Guimaraes in time for him not to re-join Newcastle, who play Valencia in a pre-season friendly at the Mestalla next Saturday.

If he goes to Spain, Guimaraes is expected to hold talks over his future with Matthias Jaissle, who will be unveiled as the new head coach of Newcastle over the weekend following Eddie Howe’s shock exit after almost five years in charge just weeks before the start of the Premier League campaign.

Howe’s departure from Newcastle in a surprise U-turn following a 4-1 friendly drubbing by Championship club Bristol City is said to have been hastened by the high-profile exits of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, who left for Barcelona and Tottenham, respectively.

Howe is reported to have expected Guimaraes to join Arsenal eventually, with the likely loss of a third key player during another turbulent summer said to have played a part in his decision to stand down - one year on from striker Alexander Isak effectively going on strike to force a British record £125m switch to Liverpool.

Guimaraes would become Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer so far, following the arrivals of winger Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier, plus the permanent deal for loanee defender Piero Hincapie.

It would provide a significant transfer boost for Mikel Arteta after the Premier League champions were beaten in shock fashion by Chelsea to a deal worth £117m for England star Morgan Rogers earlier this month.

Arsenal have also been exploring a blockbuster move for Guimaraes’ Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior amid his ongoing contract stand-off with Real Madrid.