Jaissle: Guimaraes' future was decided before I arrived at Newcastle

Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has revealed that the decision over Bruno Guimaraes' future had already been made by the time he first met the club's departing captain. Arsenal are set to complete a protracted £75m move for Guimaraes after a breakthrough in discussions. Jaissle spoke briefly with the 28-year-old at Newcastle's training camp in Spain earlier this week, but that meeting did not change the outcome. Guimaraes then said an emotional goodbye to his team-mates and staff. "I met him quickly, but the decision was already made," Jaissle said in his first press conference since being appointed. "It was a nice conversation. He's a fantastic player and a great human being. It's tough, but for him now it's the next challenge and we need to deal with it at a later stage." Guimaraes is set to become the fourth key player to leave Newcastle in less than a year. Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali both departed earlier in the window, to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, while Alexander Isak joined Liverpool last summer. Club legend Alan Shearer has sent Jaissle his best wishes, although he previously warned in a column that it could be a tough season with very challenging times ahead. Jaissle, who has replaced Eddie Howe, views the rebuild as a chance to start a new cycle. "This is a challenge and there are so many transitions at the moment," he said. "Many big players left - legends of the club - but we need to see it as a chance. Not having too many excuses now, just thinking forward about what we can influence. Control the controllables, I used to say, and I'm sure there will be progress this season." Newcastle have changed their recruitment approach this summer by targeting younger players from Europe. Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, 24, is the club's oldest arrival by some distance. Newcastle have spent about £146m so far on goalkeepers Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, and winger Bazoumana Toure. All five, like Jaissle, are new to the Premier League. Jaissle, 38, arrives after trophy-laden spells in Saudi Arabia and Austria with Al-Ahli and RB Salzburg and is embracing the new challenge. "This is something I don't have on my CV, but that's normal in football," he said. "At one point it has to be your first step and I'm now at that moment after being successful in Saudi Arabia and Austria. Everyone was dreaming about being a part of the Premier League and now here we are." Newcastle begin the season at St James' Park against Liverpool on 23 August.