Newcastle United manager Jaissle discusses Guimaraes departure to Arsenal
Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has indicated that the decision regarding Bruno Guimaraes’ future was already made when he first met the departing captain. Arsenal is reportedly close to finalising a £75m transfer for the midfielder after progress in discussions.
Jaissle had a brief conversation with Guimaraes at the club’s training camp in Spain earlier this week. The 28-year-old subsequently said his goodbyes to teammates and staff. Jaissle, in his initial meeting with reporters following his appointment as head coach, stated, “I met him quickly, but the decision was already made.” He described Guimaraes as a “fantastic player and a great human being,” acknowledging the difficulty of the situation but noting it represents a new challenge for the player.
Guimaraes is poised to become the fourth significant player to leave Newcastle within a year. Earlier in the transfer window, Anthony Gordon moved to Barcelona, and Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur. Last summer, Alexander Isak transferred to Liverpool.
Club rebuild and new signings
Jaissle views the club’s current rebuild as an opportunity to initiate a new cycle and develop a young, ambitious team, succeeding former manager Eddie Howe. He commented on the transitions, noting, “Many big players left – legends of the club – but we need to see it as a chance.” Jaissle emphasised focusing on what the club can influence, expressing confidence in progress for the season.
The manager has been concentrating on coaching the existing players, while Newcastle continues to work on further additions before the season commences. The club has shifted its transfer policy this summer, targeting younger players from continental Europe. Lukas Hornicek, at 24 years of age, is the oldest new arrival by a notable margin.
Newcastle has reportedly spent approximately £146m so far on new players. This includes goalkeepers Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, and winger Bazoumana Toure. This quintet, like Jaissle, will be experiencing the Premier League for the first time.
Guimaraes’ insistence on move
Guimaraes reportedly informed Newcastle management earlier this summer of his desire to join Arsenal if a suitable offer materialised. While Newcastle had initially rejected Arsenal’s opening bid, a £75m fee has now been agreed. Guimaraes has been granted permission to travel for a medical examination.
Newcastle had sought to retain Guimaraes, who has two years remaining on his contract, along with a club option for a third year. However, if this deal proceeds, the club could have generated over £240m from player sales this summer. This figure includes the £69.3m deal for Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and the £100m transfer of Sandro Tonali to Spurs.
Reports indicate that Newcastle was keen to keep Guimaraes and would have rejected offers if he had expressed a desire to stay. However, Guimaraes was firm in his wish to leave, believing it was his last significant chance to win titles. The transfer was contingent on Guimaraes wanting to leave and Newcastle selling on their terms, similar to the deals for Tonali and Gordon.
Newcastle insisted on their valuation for the player, aiming for a fee that would be among the highest paid for a player aged 28 or older. The club also required the situation to be handled appropriately, with Guimaraes attending the training camp in Spain, which he did on Monday. Newcastle felt Guimaraes complied with their requirements. The club reportedly did not want a repeat of the Alexander Isak situation, who declined to train before his move to Liverpool last summer.
Agents were involved in discussions between the clubs from the outset, but Newcastle rejected initial proposals, which reportedly began with mentions of a deal worth £40-£45m in June. Newcastle reportedly felt Arsenal prolonged the transfer by not contacting them for several weeks. Despite this, there have been no reported disagreements, and relations between the player and the club remain positive.
Jaissle, who has had successful spells in Saudi Arabia and Austria with Al-Ahli and RB Salzburg, is embracing the challenge of managing in the Premier League. He noted that while managing in the Premier League is new to his CV, it is a normal step in football. Newcastle is scheduled to begin their new campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park on 23 August.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
