**Newcastle United Express Reluctance to Sell Bruno Guimaraes Amid Arsenal Interest**
Newcastle United's sporting director, Ross Wilson, has publicly stated that the club did not intend to sell their captain, Bruno Guimaraes, amidst growing speculation linking the Brazilian midfielder with a move to Arsenal. Reports in British media have suggested that Arsenal is poised to secure Guimaraes for a fee of £75 million ($101 million), although neither club has officially confirmed the transfer as of yet.
At a preseason training camp in Spain, Wilson addressed the media, emphasizing that the decision to sell Guimaraes was not part of the club's strategy. "We didn’t want to sell Bruno. It wasn’t in the plan to sell Bruno. None of us – or ownership – wanted to sell Bruno," he stated. He highlighted Guimaraes' significance to the team, noting that he is not only the captain but also a pivotal player who has contributed significantly since joining Newcastle from Olympique Lyonnais in January 2022.
During his tenure with Newcastle, Guimaraes has made 195 appearances and scored 31 goals, playing a crucial role in the club's recent successes, including leading them to a League Cup victory in 2025, which marked a significant achievement for the club after a lengthy period without domestic silverware.
Wilson acknowledged the emotional aspect of Guimaraes' situation, indicating that the player had expressed a desire to leave the club. "What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on," Wilson explained. This sentiment reflects the complexities that often accompany player transfers, particularly when a player's aspirations and the club's intentions do not align.
Despite the reported interest from Arsenal, Wilson reiterated that the club's plans did not include selling Guimaraes. He mentioned the need for flexibility in the transfer market, indicating that while the club may have had certain targets in mind, they must adapt to changing circumstances. "It might have been in our plan to sign one player, but we didn’t get him so we move on to another. We can only be honest about that," he added.
The potential departure of Guimaraes would be another blow for Newcastle, who have already seen key players such as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali leave the club, along with the departure of manager Eddie Howe. As the team prepares for their Premier League opener against Liverpool on August 23, the situation surrounding Guimaraes adds an additional layer of uncertainty for the club.
As the transfer window continues, Newcastle United will have to navigate the challenges of retaining their star players while also planning for the future. The outcome of the Guimaraes situation remains to be seen, but the club's leadership has made it clear that they value his contributions and would prefer to keep him in their ranks.