Arsenal are ready to strengthen their midfield this summer to bolster their title-winning squad, and Mikel Arteta has personally identified a top target that he wants.
The Gunners claimed their first Premier League title in 22 years by finishing seven points above Man City, while they also reached the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals, where they suffered defeat to City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Now Arteta is ready to push his side forward to another level, and Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as the man he wants at the Emirates Stadium above any other.
Romano: Arteta Pushing for Guimaraes Deal
Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes smiles as he walks into St James' Parkvia Reuters
Guimaraes, who has been described as 'world-class', has been heavily linked with a move away from the Magpies this summer, and is currently shining with Brazil at the World Cup, registering four assists to help them into the Last 16 of the tournament.
Arsenal have already had an initial bid worth around £55m rejected by Newcastle for the Brazilian star, and reports suggest that the north London club are preparing a new £60m move to try and tempt them into a sale.
But speaking in his latest YouTube video, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that it's Arteta who is the driving force behind the deal, and he expects it to be very difficult to complete.
"Obviously, Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali, Newcastle sold Anthony Gordon, so now Newcastle don't have any intention to let Bruno Guimarães go," he said.
"At the same time, Arsenal had been rejected, £55m. Mikel Arteta is a big fan of the player, so what I can tell you, in addition to all of this, is that he really, really likes the player. Mikel Arteta was driving this interest for Bruno Guimaraes internally.
"It's not the first time Arsenal go for him. Even in the past, they were considering the possibility to go for Bruno Guimaraes, [he has] always been a player appreciated by Arteta. But now with Newcastle, it's not going to be an easy one at all, because Newcastle again made money with Gordon, made money with Tonali, and they already told Bruno Guimaraes, and they told people close to him that they want to keep the player, so it's not going to be easy at all for Arsenal to get it done."
Guimaraes to Arsenal Would Be Game-Changer
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palacevia Reuters
In the 2025/26 season, Arsenal's midfield of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice was run into the ground by Arteta, to the point where he opted to use Myles Lewis-Skelly during the run-in.
Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino also provided other options during the season, but the addition of a new top-level midfield star would be a game-changing signing for the Gunners, and would help to take them to the next level.
Newcastle, obviously, don't want to lose yet another star, but cash is king in football these days, and Arsenal have the resources to get a deal over the line if they stump up a fee that is big enough.
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Arsenal Now Preparing Bid to Sign 'World-Class' £60m Premier League Star
The Gunners are said to be confident about their chances