Arsenal to return with improved bid after Newcastle reject 55m offer for Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal have opened their pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes, but a first attempt to prise the Brazilian from Newcastle has been firmly rebuffed. Reports in Brazil say the Premier League champions saw a 55 million pound bid for the midfielder rejected, with Newcastle making clear he is not for sale.

Arsenal are not deterred. According to the same reports, the Gunners have already indicated they will return with an improved offer, signalling genuine intent to land a marquee midfielder this summer. Sporting director Andrea Berta is said to be leading the negotiations, and there is history there: Berta tried to sign Guimaraes back in 2020 during his time at Atletico Madrid, before the Brazilian joined Lyon instead.

The interest reflects Mikel Arteta's clear priority. Having guided Arsenal to the Premier League title last season, he wants to add a new central midfielder, and Guimaraes sits among a shortlist that also features Bournemouth's Alex Scott, Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes. Of those, the Brazilian is the most established and the most expensive.

Guimaraes' stock could hardly be higher. He has started all three of Brazil's group games at the World Cup, contributing three assists, and reminded a global audience why he is regarded as one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League. Newcastle signed him from Lyon for 40 million pounds two years ago, and he has since become a cornerstone of Eddie Howe's side.

That is precisely why Newcastle are reluctant to deal. Chronicle Live reports the club have no intention of selling to Arsenal this summer, and their opening stance is unequivocal: Guimaraes is not for sale. A selling club with no need to cash in and a player of this importance holds a strong hand, and it will take a substantial offer even to open the conversation.

There is a further complication for Newcastle. They already face the prospect of losing Tonali, with Tottenham having tabled a 75 million pound bid for the Italy international, who is admired by Roberto De Zerbi as a key part of his midfield rebuild. Losing two midfield pillars in one window would be a serious blow, which only stiffens their resolve to keep Guimaraes.

For Arsenal, the calculation is whether to keep pushing or pivot to a more attainable target. A rejected opening bid is a routine stage in any big-money pursuit, but Newcastle's firmness suggests the Gunners may have to pay well above their initial valuation, or move on to an alternative on the shortlist.

The saga is only beginning, and with Arsenal determined and Newcastle digging in, it could become one of the summer's defining midfield tussles. For more on the Gunners' window and the rest of the market, follow the latest football news.