Arsenal have reportedly renewed their interest in Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes after becoming dissatisfied with talks for Martin Zubimendi.
Mikel Arteta’s team has been keeping a close eye on Zubimendi for over a year and appears to have made headway heading into the summer transfer window, with a contract proposal delivered to the midfielder’s camp. Real Sociedad will need to activate a release clause of about £52 million in order to sell, but this is usually seen as a reasonable asking price.
However, Arsenal has yet to hear back from Zubimendi’s camp and has grown annoyed by the lack of reaction, with Arteta eager to get business done swiftly so he can prepare for another Premier League title campaign. That frustration appears to have prompted the Gunners to seek elsewhere, with Football Transfers reporting that Guimaraes has emerged as a possible possibility.
A move for the Brazilian is usually believed to cost twice as much as one for Zubimendi, with Guimaraes’ release clause at Newcastle estimated to be £100 million. However, the source adds that the Magpies’might be open’ to lowering the cost if it is not fulfilled elsewhere, with a focus on profitability and sustainability guidelines (PSR).
Newcastle have long been expected to lose a significant player this summer, with chief executive Darren Eales declaring earlier this year that player trade, both in and out, is essential for the club’s evolution. Although there is no pressing need to raise finances, as is said to be the case at Leicester City and Everton, those in power at St James’ Park will not rule out a move if it would benefit them financially in the long run.
“It is counter-intuitive and part of the inherent system of PSR that there is an incentive to trade your players if you want to re-invest, by the nature of the boundaries. Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It’s difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we’re going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players.”
Arsenal are reported to be considering a player-plus-cash deal for Guimaraes, though such transactions are notoriously difficult to complete due to the number of moving parts involving various players and their representatives. It is unclear how far the north London club will go to pursue the midfielder, or whether Zubimendi would respond to their offer.
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