Arsenal has been accused of using underhand tactics in the £75 million blockbuster transfer.

The £75 million transfer of Bruno Guimaraes, which initially appeared to be a purely footballing decision, has instead drawn sharp criticism from Newcastle. The Magpies are said to be unhappy with Arsenal's approach to the talks, which have dragged on for weeks.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal has finalized the high-profile signing of Bruno Guimaraes after weeks of intense negotiations with Newcastle United. The Brazilian midfielder was identified by manager Mikel Arteta as the top priority to strengthen his midfield this summer. However, Newcastle believes that Arsenal's conduct throughout the pursuit has caused considerable frustration, even though the two clubs eventually agreed on a fee of around £75 million.

From the start of the transfer window, Newcastle repeatedly stated that Bruno Guimaraes was not for sale. It was only when the 28-year-old midfielder himself expressed a desire to join the reigning Premier League champions that St James' Park agreed to enter negotiations. Nonetheless, according to British media, what bothers Newcastle is not the loss of the star player but the way Arsenal conducted the entire pursuit. This detail has drawn widespread attention now that the deal has reached a breakthrough.

According to Sky Sports, reporter Keith Downie revealed that the situation began about six weeks ago when intermediaries contacted Newcastle to inquire about the possibility of Bruno Guimaraes moving to Arsenal. He said: "It all started around six weeks ago when intermediaries—that is, agents—contacted Newcastle to ask whether Bruno Guimaraes could leave and move to Arsenal." Around the same time, the Brazilian midfielder signaled his willingness to negotiate with Arsenal and expressed interest in joining Arteta's side.

Downie noted that Newcastle was particularly puzzled by how Arsenal handled the deal. He stated: "What has left Newcastle confused over the past five or six weeks is the way Arsenal conducted the transfer. There was no direct contact, no formal offer. Everything was done through intermediaries, and that genuinely baffled Newcastle." Although no allegations of rule-breaking have been made against Arsenal, the lack of official communication is seen as the reason for Newcastle's dissatisfaction.

Bruno Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon for around £40 million in 2022 and quickly became one of the Premier League's finest midfielders. He helped the club secure a Champions League spot and win the Carabao Cup. The Brazil international is scheduled to undergo a medical this week before officially becoming an Arsenal player, a club that won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final last season.

Guimaraes' departure will undoubtedly leave a significant void in Newcastle's squad, but it also brings in substantial funds. Downie commented: "He will be a huge loss for the team. However, Newcastle has now collected a total of £245 million from the sales of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Bruno Guimaraes, giving them more budget to operate in the transfer market." Meanwhile, Arsenal has not stopped there—after Christos Tzolis, Illan Meslier, and Guimaraes, the London club is also said to be pushing for a deal for Vinicius Junior. Manager Mikel Arteta also stated: "Arsenal will not stand still. We are very ambitious about what we are aiming for."