A player-plus-cash swap deal could be the best chance Arsenal have at signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, with Eddie Howe equally as eager as Mikel Arteta to bolster his squad this summer.
16:00, 27 Jun 2026
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on April 25, 2026 in London, England
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Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Arsenal(Image: Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Arsenal could offer Newcastle United as many as four players in a potential swap deal for Bruno Guimaraes. The 28-year-old midfielder has recently been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as Mikel Arteta gears up for a staunch defence of the Premier League title.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners recently made a verbal offer to sign Guimaraes, but it was swiftly rejected by the Magpies. The report claims that the proposal, valued at less than £60million, was submitted to higher-ups at St. James' Park via intermediaries.
As it stands, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will take a second bite of the cherry, with Newcastle not prepared to entertain any offers for the Brazil international. The Gunners shouldn't be discouraged, though.
If it later transpires that the Magpies are just looking for a little extra money, Andrea Berta should propose a player-plus-cash swap deal. Not only could the Arsenal sporting director offload a top earner, but he could also bolster Mikel Arteta's squad in the meantime.
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Such a deal would be of greater value to Eddie Howe, too, receiving a lucrative fee as well as a Premier League winner. So, with that being said, football.london has looked at four Arsenal players who should be included in a potential player-plus-cash swap deal for Guimaraes.
Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli, who will enter the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium later this month, would be a shrewd replacement for Anthony Gordon. The 25-year-old winger has been a victim of Arsenal's success, with very few opposition teams brave enough to go toe-to-toe.
In recent years, many have deployed a low-block, stopping Martinelli and his teammates from playing on the counterattack. So, the Brazilian, in particular, who's at his best when there's space to run into and exploit, has struggled to reach the heights he did during the 2022/23 campaign.
At Newcastle, he would be able to stretch his legs and showcase his best qualities. Martinelli could fill Gordon's shoes out of possession, too, lifting supporters from their seats with his tenacious front-foot pressing.
Arsenal's Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus on the team coach after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England
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Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus on the Arsenal team coach(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Leandro Trossard
Trossard, who will also enter the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium later this month, would certainly raise the flood at St. James' Park, rivalling Harvey Barnes for minutes in the starting lineup. With willing runners around him, the 31-year-old could be a good option as a second-striker.
Gabriel Jesus
Jesus is the third of three Arsenal players on this list who will soon enter the final 12 months of their contract at the Emirates Stadium. With foreign clubs eligible to open pre-contract talks with the 29-year-old striker in January ahead of a free transfer in the summer of 2027, this could be the last chance that Berta gets to recoup some value.
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Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
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Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus could both leave(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Merino
If Newcastle would rather sign a midfielder to fill Guimaraes' shoes, they could always welcome Merino back to St. James' Park. The 30-year-old midfielder would probably be the most suitable and realistic option for the Magpies if they were to entertain a player-plus-cash swap deal.
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