Arsenal's midfield transfer hunt has hit a double snag as Newcastle United hold a contract extension option over Bruno Guimaraes, while Lille are demanding up to £85m for teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi
06:58, 01 Jul 2026Updated 06:59, 01 Jul 2026
Mikel Arteta is looking to make two major signings
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Mikel Arteta is looking to make two major signings
With the burden of ending the club's 22-year Premier League title drought now behind them, confidence is soaring around the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal gear up for the new campaign. Mikel Arteta's squad finally claimed the trophy in May, yet there remains unfinished business following their European heartbreak, succumbing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
The Spaniard is intent on ensuring the Gunners bounce back even more formidable and is anticipated to receive substantial backing in the transfer market in the coming weeks.
Sporting director Andrea Berta has allegedly been provided with a transfer kitty of approximately £250million, while Piero Hincapie has already become Arsenal's first permanent acquisition of the summer after converting his loan spell from Bayer Leverkusen into a permanent deal worth £34.5m.
Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options
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Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options(Image: Getty Images)
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Bolstering the engine room is believed to be amongst Arteta's top priorities heading into the new season. Nevertheless, Arsenal have now encountered obstacles in their chase for two key targets in that department, reports the Mirror.
Bruno Guimaraes transfer twist Bruno Guimaraes, who delivered the decisive assist in Brazil's Round of 32 triumph over Japan at the World Cup on Tuesday, has emerged as a prime midfield target for the Premier League champions. Chronicle Live reports that an initial bid of £45m for the Newcastle United skipper has already been turned down.
Meanwhile, claims from Brazil that Guimaraes has a £60m release clause in his contract were quickly refuted, with insiders at Tyneside maintaining that no such clause exists. This is not the only contractual obstacle Arsenal could encounter in their chase for the 28-year-old's signature.
The Magpies also have the option to prolong Guimaraes' current contract by an additional 12 months, according to Shields Gazette. If exercised, this clause would keep the Brazilian international at St James' Park until summer 2029, bolstering Newcastle's bargaining power and making any transfer to north London even more complex.
Ayyoub Bouaddi has impressed for Morocco at the World Cup
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Ayyoub Bouaddi has impressed for Morocco at the World Cup(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Should Arsenal fail to lure Guimaraes away from Newcastle, they may shift their focus to Lille prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18 year old Moroccan has boosted his burgeoning reputation with a series of standout performances in midfield at the World Cup.
He is reportedly drawing attention from several of Europe's top clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. According to the Standard, Lille have slapped a £70m price tag on the teenage midfielder this summer.
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However, there's a snag, with the Ligue 1 team only willing to accept that fee if the purchasing club agrees to loan Bouaddi straight back for the 2026-27 season. If Arsenal demand to bring him to the Emirates Stadium immediately, then the asking price will increase to approximately £85m.
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