Emotional Guimaraes wanted Arsenal move, says Newcastle chief

Newcastle United's sporting director Ross Wilson revealed that the club was not planning to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but the emotional captain ultimately wanted to join Arsenal. The Premier League champions are set to complete a £75m deal for the midfielder, following a breakthrough in negotiations this week. Wilson expressed disappointment at the player's decision to leave, but acknowledged that Guimaraes did not want to continue playing for the club.

The 28-year-old's emotional decision influenced Newcastle's thinking on the matter. The sporting director emphasized that the situation was not part of the club's strategy for the summer. Guimaraes bid a tearful farewell to his teammates and staff before departing the club's pre-season training camp in Spain, marking the fourth significant player to move on in less than a year at Newcastle.

The club's chief executive David Hopkinson suggested that Arsenal had hoped to pay a smaller fee, while acknowledging that Newcastle would have preferred a higher number for the influential figure. Hopkinson emphasized that the deal satisfies both parties and called it the highest fee for a player in Guimaraes' position at his age.

The club is actively seeking a replacement midfielder, with four of their five signings this summer being aged 20 and under, but they are looking to bring in a more experienced player and make further additions before the window closes on September 1st. Wilson warned that the club does not want to make any mistakes by rushing into a decision that they may regret.