Arsenal are now said to be readying a bid for one of their main targets this summer. The Gunners are carefully plotting their summer business as they look to become a dominant force both at home and abroad.
Mikel Arteta's men won the Premier League title last season, but they still have some areas to improve to be able to consistently compete with PSG and Bayern Munich. Andrea Berta and Arteta were clear on where they needed to improve last summer, but while they will likely have a plan for this summer, it is certainly less obvious what the Gunners need to do.
Arsenal are likely to sign a left winger, a hybrid midfielder and some sort of extra cover for right-back, while some of the squad players who may leave will need replacing. Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is said to be a key target, and a bid may now be lodged by the Gunners.
Arsenal preparing Guimaraes bid
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palacevia Reuters
Arsenal are said to be preparing a bid for Guimaraes, who has established himself as one of the most dominant midfielders in the Premier League. According to The Sun, Arsenal believe they can still push through a £60million deal for the 'world-class' Brazilian despite Newcastle already selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for £92million upfront and a further £8million in potential add-ons.
The report adds that Arsenal are currently readying a bid, so this could be a transfer saga that speeds up quickly in the coming days and weeks. Although Guimaraes is currently at the World Cup, so the deal may need to wait until after the summer, depending on Carlo Ancelotti's policy on club matters during an international competition.
Arsenal already have some solid options in the midfield between Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Christian Norgaard, but Arteta wants to increase competition further.
Guimaraes is an all-rounder
bruno guimaraes
Guimaraes has become one of the most reliable midfielders in the top-flight, and he was described as 'top-class' by Adrian Clarke during a Premier League analysis back in 2024.
"The Brazil international is like two players rolled into one for the Magpies," wrote Clarke. "He is essentially a specialist holding midfielder out of possession, scurrying around looking to break up play as a sitting midfielder in a three-man unit.
"But once Newcastle have the ball, Guimaraes transforms into an attacking box-to-box player who offers drive, creativity, goals and assists. He is seemingly everywhere on the pitch, so it is little wonder there is only one top-flight player, West Ham United's James Ward-Prowse, who has covered more distance this season."
He added: "One of Guimaraes’ strongest features is his willingness to do the 'dirty work'.
"He is always on the move looking to get involved in duels, and in that sense Guimaraes is one of the most effective midfielders around. Playing for a side who have to do more defending than the top three clubs - Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City - his work off the ball is comparable to their top-class holding midfielders."
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