Bruno Guimaraes: Arsenal bid rejected by Newcastle with Magpies determined to keep captain and Brazil international midfielder

Arsenal's opening bid for Bruno Guimaraes has been rejected by Newcastle. 

The Premier League champions are now in direct talks with Newcastle over a deal for their captain.

Guimaraes is in Spain to report back for their pre-season training camp in La Manga. The midfielder posted a picture on his Instagram story on Tuesday evening to confirm he has linked up with his Toon team-mates.

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The 28-year-old told Newcastle bosses last month he wants to join Arsenal this summer.

Newcastle want their captain to stay and he has two years left on his contract plus a club-held option for a third.

Arsenal are now discussing internally whether to go back in with an improved offer.

Guimaraes, who joined the Magpies in 2022 from Lyon for £40m, has made 195 appearances for Newcastle, scoring 31 goals.

Earlier on Monday, Guimaraes was on his way to meet up with Newcastle United at their pre-season camp in Spain.

He had left Brazil on Sunday, when it was widely reported he was expected to be arriving in La Manga.

However, Guimaraes is arriving at the Spain training camp in agreement with the club and is now set to join the group.

Last week, he called now departed head coach Eddie Howe the "king of this club" following his exit from St James' Park.

Howe's resignation came amid Arsenal's interest in Guimaraes, who has praised his former boss.

In an Instagram post, Guimaraes wrote the words over a picture of Howe: "King of this club!! Thanks for everything you've done for us.

"I loved enjoying our time together. Thanks for making me a better player and person! No words I can say will really say how much I enjoyed being our player. Wish you all the very best in your future, gaffer."

'Interesting chess game begins' between Arsenal and Newcastle

Football expert Julian Laurens on Sky Sports News:

"You knew Newcastle would go into these negotiations trying to get as much money as possible from Arsenal.

"But we've seen from Arsenal this summer they won't pay over the odds, what they believe is the value of a player - Bruno Guimaraes, Morgan Rogers, Diomande and others.

"It's an interesting chess game starting between Newcastle and Arsenal. I believe between the player and Arsenal there were never going to be any problems, so it's between the clubs.

"That first bid was always going to happen about now, it was always going to be rejected. Now, the two clubs can discuss it a bit more.

"I think Newcastle know how much Guimaraes wants to leave and join Arsenal, and we know the current situation financially from a Newcastle point of view.

"That's one of the reasons Eddie Howe left, he knew Guimaraes would be sold to Arsenal at some point.

"Newcastle want to avoid what happened with Alexander Isak last summer because it didn't bring anything good to anyone - not Newcastle, Isak or Liverpool.

"I expect to see this go through in the next couple of weeks, and from an Arsenal point of view they get not only one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but someone who can play as a No 6, a No 8 and a No 10.

"The idea from Mikel Arteta to sign him is how press-resistant he is. If you play against a team who come and chase you and want to play out from the back, Bruno is the best at that role.

"I fully expect him to play in front of the back four, and have Rice and Odegaard either side of him, and be able to dictate the tempo and control everything."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Bruno Guimaraes: Arsenal bid rejected by Newcastle with Magpies determined to keep captain and Brazil international midfielder