‘When’s it my turn?’ - Why Bruno Guimaraes wants to leave Newcastle

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Newcastle’s transfer problems continue to mount, with Bruno Guimaraes still pushing to join Arsenal after it was confirmed that the Magpies have surprisingly missed out on Johan Manzambi.

The Switzerland international midfielder had been expected to join the Premier League side from Freiburg, yet Aston Villa will complete an unlikely swoop for the promising youngster.

Now the attention of Eddie Howe’s side are fixed upon the case of Bruno Guimaraes, who continues to be heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed earlire this month that Bruno is unsettled at Newcastle, and David Ornstein backed this up by revealing that he has asked to join Arsenal.

Newcastle are said to be “flabbergasted” by the path that his transfer saga has taken.

While Bruno is said to have agreed personal terms with the North London side, Arsenal have yet to make an offer for the 28-year-old, leaving the Magpies furious.

They have already sanctioned moves for Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer, and having lost Alexander Isak in frustrating circumstances last summer to Liverpool are naturally loath to allow another key figure to depart.

Why does Bruno want to leave Newcastle?

Leading Newcastle expert Keith Downie has explained why Bruno is pushing to leave Newcastle while speaking to Sky Sports.

“Some of the other Newcastle players who have left in recent times – Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur for £100 million just last week – will be doubling their wages. Anthony Gordon has done similar with his move to Barcelona. And we saw what happened with Alexander Isak in that protracted move to Liverpool last year,” he said.

“I think Bruno Guimaraes, without putting words in his mouth, will be wondering: ‘When’s it my turn to go and double my wages and give myself a chance to win league titles year after year?’

“He’s 28, he’ll be 29 in November, he’s in his peak years right now. All these players when they join Newcastle, they do so hoping they will win trophies, win the Premier League, and of course they’ve not done that. It’s not been quite the rise we thought that it would be, it’s gone slower than we thought it would have.

“They still see Newcastle, most of them, as a stepping stone for a player. I think for Bruno, it’s a chance for a last payday, a chance to join a club that wins trophies regularly.

“The problem is here that Arsenal, if they do really want to sign him, need to come to the table and make an offer to Newcastle and they haven’t done that yet. That’s what makes this whole transfer so unbelievable really. It feels like it’s all being driven by agents and intermediaries because Newcastle have not had direct contact with Arsenal, but yet there has been talks between intermediaries trying to sanction a deal.”

Will Arsenal sign Bruno?

While there is little doubt that Bruno would enhance the Arsenal squad, the Premier League champions have not targeted him as their priority this summer.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers occupies that role, with the England World Cup star having a price tag of £130 million (€150m).

Newcastle’s demands for Bruno are also likely to exceed £100m, so far Arsenal to get both deals over the line will cost an extravagant sum. It remains to be seen if they are willing to pay such a price for two new stars.