Bruno Guimaraes is preparing for a return to Newcastle amid ongoing speculation over a potential move to Arsenal.
The 28-year-old is a top target for the Gunners, who have held talks with Guimaraes' representatives in recent weeks and received encouragement that a deal could be done.
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However, Newcastle are determined to keep hold of Guimaraes and insist no club-to-club talks have taken place yet.
Those are expected to begin, with Arsenal ready to step up their interest and directly approach Newcastle.
It is understood that it would take a fee of around £80million for the Magpies to enter into negotiations with Arsenal.
Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer and losing their captain as well would be a big blow.
Guimaraes is believed to have told Newcastle he wants to leave this summer but he is yet to meet face-to-face with Eddie Howe or club executives.
The midfielder is still on holiday after being given time off following Brazil's last-16 exit to Norway at the World Cup on July 5.
Players are given a mandatory 21 days off over the summer. That takes Guimaraes up to this weekend and means this is his final week of holiday before his attention turns back to club matters.
He is expected to report back at Newcastle for the start of his pre-season next week.
As it stands Guimaraes will then be involved in Newcastle's training camp in La Manga, starting on July 31, and he could then play against Valencia on August 8.
Arsenal will also be in Spain next week. They take on Girona on August 1 in the first official pre-season friendly of the summer.
Newcastle will hope there is no repeat of the saga involving Alexander Isak last summer.
The striker eventually joined Liverpool, but not before he had a stand-off with the club and trained away from the first team for weeks.
