Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson says captain Bruno Guimaraes asked to leave for Arsenal, despite the club not intending to sell him this summer. The proposed £75m transfer is a significant loss for Newcastle because Guimaraes has been a leading figure for the team, while it would give Premier League champions Arsenal an experienced and highly regarded midfielder.

Wilson said Guimaraes, 28, was respectful but emotional in expressing that he no longer wanted to play for Newcastle, and the club decided to negotiate once Arsenal reached an acceptable valuation. Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson described the fee as satisfactory, although Arsenal initially sought to pay less; Guimaraes is set to become the fourth major departure in under a year, after Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak. Newcastle are seeking a more experienced midfield replacement, alongside further signings before the 1 September deadline.