Arsenal Close In on Bruno Guimaraes as Newcastle Confirm Matthias Jaissle to Succeed Eddie Howe
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Arsenal have moved to the front of the queue for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with a deal now valued at around £80m including add-ons, according to The Times and Sky Sports. The champions had two earlier offers rejected before raising their proposal, and reporting suggests confidence is growing on both sides that terms can be finalised in the coming days, though the transfer has not yet been formally completed.
Newcastle have confirmed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach on a four-year contract, paying Al Ahli around £9.5m in compensation to release him. The appointment follows Eddie Howe's departure after nearly five years in charge, with Howe saying he felt it was "in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break." Jaissle is due to meet his new squad at Newcastle's La Manga training camp, with his first match in charge set for a pre-season friendly against Valencia at the Mestalla.
James Trafford is closing in on a club-record move to Leeds United worth £40m plus £5m in add-ons, a fee that would make him the most expensive British goalkeeper in history, according to Sky Sports. The England international has already agreed personal terms on wages understood to be around £130,000 a week, with the deal expected to be concluded before Leeds face RB Leipzig on 8 August.
Real Madrid are expected to lodge a first offer for Manchester City's Rodri, in the region of £43m-£51m, taking advantage of the Spain midfielder having one year left on his contract, Sky Sports reports. City are said to be hopeful of persuading their World Cup-winning captain to sign a new deal instead, but are braced for a formal Madrid bid.
Transfer and squad notes
Newcastle's pre-season squad already includes forward Nick Woltemade, who arrived last summer for £69m and is seen as a potential fit for Jaissle's system, along with Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw, all reported back in training ahead of the Spain trip.
Alejandro Garnacho made his Aston Villa debut over the weekend following his loan move from Chelsea, which included a conditional obligation to buy in a deal Sky Sports valued at around £40m; reaction among Villa supporters to his first appearance was mixed, according to SportBible.
What it means for the league
Newcastle are trying to rebuild a management structure and a first-team spine at the same time, with a new head coach, a captain edging toward the exit and a fresh goalkeeper all in motion inside the same week. Arsenal's pursuit of Guimaraes points to a squad still being sharpened even after winning the title, while Manchester City face the prospect of losing both a first-choice goalkeeper and a midfield anchor before the season starts, depending on how the Rodri situation develops.