Matthias Jaissle plans Bruno Guimaraes talks amid £85m Arsenal bid
New Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle will hold urgent face-to-face talks with Bruno Guimaraes in a final attempt to prevent the Brazilian’s proposed £85m transfer to Arsenal.
The Gunners are reportedly closing in on a lucrative deal for the highly-rated playmaker, having identified him as a primary target alongside international team-mate Vinicius Jr.
An agreement between the two Premier League clubs is expected in the coming days, with the initial fee set at £80m alongside a further £5m in potential add-ons.
The South American star has been a revelation at St James’ Park since arriving in 2022, establishing himself as one of the English top flight’s premier central midfielders.
Jaissle seeks to sell his vision
Despite a move to north London appearing increasingly imminent, the incoming manager is determined to personally outline his footballing philosophy.
The 38-year-old German tactician is succeeding Eddie Howe, whose departure from the Tyneside club was officially confirmed on Friday.
Jaissle is scheduled to arrive at the squad’s La Manga training camp on Saturday to conduct sit-down meetings with key personnel.
The former Lyon man will join the camp on Sunday following an extended post-World Cup break, setting the stage for crucial discussions the following day.
Fond farewell to departing Howe
The impending managerial transition coincides with an emotional tribute from the club captain to his departing mentor.
Taking to social media, the midfielder expressed deep gratitude to the man who brought him to English football.
“Ed, how could I ever put into words how grateful I am to you? First of all, I want to thank you for bringing me to this club.”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, for helping me grow not only as a player, but more importantly, as a person.”
“You gave me the honour of being captain – of being your captain. That is something I will never forget and will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Final updates on an uncertain future
Prior to his exit, Howe addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his star player following a recent pre-season defeat to Bristol City.
“We can’t control the forces that are at play here, we’ve just got to make sure that when Bruno comes back, we look after him and he trains well, which I’m sure he will do.”
“I’ve said many times we want players who are committed, and Bruno has always been committed through his training performances and his game.”