Arsenal and Manchester City in 10-hour race to land £100m transfer
The two Premier League title challengers have just hours to make the most of a Newcastle United contract clause.
Arsenal and Manchester City have just 10 hours to capitalise on the £100 million transfer release clause in the deal of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
The clause, which would allow the Brazilian international to engage in contract talks with a new club should it be met, is reported to expire at 11:59 pm on Monday, Jun 24. Guimaraes signed a new Magpies contract in October 2023 to keep him at the club until 2028.
The midfielder only missed one Premier League match for Eddie Howe's side last season, when suspended for the 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, and has become a key player in the side since joining from Olympique Lyonnais in 2022. His purring performances in midfield are said to have attracted transfer interest from top flight titans in the Gunners and the Cityzens.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Guimaraes this summer but recent reports suggest that the £100 million release clause is not of interest to the club, who forked out £105 million to bring Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium last term. Instead, the Gunners could look to negotiate with Newcastle United to lower that fee.
FootballTransfers reports that Arsenal could try and suggest a swap deal to the Magpies. The London clubs are also looking at Everton man Amadou Onana and Real Sociedad star Martín Zubimendi.
Speaking about Guimaraes' release clause in April, Howe said: “Having that was well planned and structured in the sense that there’s a finish point. We don’t want a summer of speculation. I don’t think that would be healthy for the player or for us.
“We want to keep Bruno. We want to build our team around him. He’s an integral part of what we’re doing. His form has been very good. He seems very happy and settled here. He’s a big part of where we can hopefully take the team. But we’re not in control of that so we shall see.”