Arsenal hopeful of £75-80m Bruno Guimaraes deal despite Newcastle resistance
The Gunners are increasingly confident they can land the Brazilian midfielder this summer after positive talks with the player and his camp.
Arsenal are growing in optimism that they can finalise a £75-80 million deal for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to sources close to the negotiations. The north London club have already seen two bids rejected by the Magpies, but discussions remain ongoing and there is a belief that a compromise can be reached before the transfer window closes.
The 28-year-old Brazil international has made it clear to Newcastle that he wants to move to the Emirates Stadium, which has strengthened Arsenal’s hand. Although the St James’ Park hierarchy are reluctant to lose one of their key players, the player’s formal request to leave has shifted the dynamic. Talks have not broken off, and the Gunners are cautiously upbeat about striking an agreement.
Mikel Arteta sees Guimaraes as an ideal addition to his midfield, which already boasts Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. The arrival of Zubimendi last summer added steel and composure, while youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in that area late in the season. Yet Arteta wants more creativity and depth, and Guimaraes’s ability to break lines with forward passes and drive play from deep is exactly what the Spaniard covets.
Arsenal’s interest in the former Lyon man comes amid a period of upheaval at Newcastle. The Magpies have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer, and their failure to qualify for the Champions League last term has raised questions about the direction of the project. Guimaraes, who won the Carabao Cup on Tyneside, is reportedly eager to join a club that just won the Premier League title and came painfully close in the Champions League final, losing on penalties.
The potential transfer would represent a statement of intent from Arsenal, who are looking to build on their domestic success and challenge for European honours. Guimaraes’s age - he turns 29 next year - means this could be his last opportunity to secure a move to a club operating at the very top level. The player is said to be excited by the prospect of working under Arteta and competing for major silverware on multiple fronts.
Elsewhere, Arsenal retain an interest in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, but the Cherries are insisting the midfielder is not for sale and are trying to tie him down to a new contract. Scott would command a similar fee, making Guimaraes the more advanced pursuit. For now, the focus remains firmly on the Brazilian, with Arsenal hopeful that a breakthrough can be achieved in the coming days.