Newcastle United are laying the foundations for life after Bruno Guimaraes and are reportedly pushing to sign a replacement for their captain.
Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal. It was reported last week that the Gunners had been given the erroneous impression that the Brazil midfielder would be available for a bargain fee of £50 million.
It’s understood that Arsenal are still sweet on the idea of signing the 28-year-old and that Newcastle won’t ‘stand in his way’ if their true valuation is met by Arsenal as they progress their bid.
Newcastle ‘intensifying’ transfer interest in a Guimaraes replacement
According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are targeting 22-year-old Swedish international midfielder Hugo Larsson, who has spent the last three seasons playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany’s Bundesliga.
“Arsenal’s pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes may have been handed a boost by the fact that Newcastle United are working to replace him with Hugo Larsson,” reports Mark Brus.
“Sources with close links to the agents industry have informed me that Newcastle are ‘intensifying’ their interest in Larsson as they look to strengthen in midfield this summer.
“Sources suggest there is an acceptance that Guimaraes will end up leaving, and the club want to have a replacement lined up.”
Brus reports that Newcastle face competition from Manchester United, who are understood to be eager to add Larsson to their midfield ranks along with new signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
Larsson has played 87 times in the Bundesliga and has three years left on his contract, which is understood to not have a release clause.
Eintracht have valued him at €60 million and have no immediate need to sell him beneath their asking price, which may have dropped from that high point after a less impressive season and Larsson’s omission from the Sweden squad for the World Cup.
With the German club reportedly willing to listen to bids closer to €40 million, Larsson’s destiny and that of Guimaraes could be connected.
Arsenal want the Newcastle captain to strengthen their midfield as they attempt to defend the Premier League title in 2026-27 and Newcastle’s ability to cost-effectively acquire a replacement they assess as suitable could grease the wheels.
The Magpies hierarchy will also be wary of putting themselves in a similar situation to the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, which turned the relationship between club and player sour and was completed late in the summer after both parties dug in.
Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali in this summer transfer window, bringing in big fees for both and getting the deals done in good time to start working on successors.
Midfielder Sean Steur has been signed from Ajax and the Tynesiders won the race for winger Bazoumana Traore from Hoffenheim.
Selling Guimaraes too would create an obvious need to recruit in his position and Larsson appears to be top of the list.
“Larsson is a profile they really like, so that’s one to watch,” said a Caught Offside source.