Arsenal are intent on adding a new midfielder to their ranks this summer, and recent reports suggest Bruno Guimaraes is at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist.
The Gunners may have won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years last season, but they aren't prepared to sit still and rely on the same squad again next term. Instead, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are ready to invest heavily in the transfer market to ensure they take advantage of this window to build a dynasty, as their primary rivals enter a period of transition.
Arteta is understood to be fond of Guimaraes and is pushing for a deal for the Newcastle United man to be completed. However, the Magpies are reportedly demanding around £90million for their talisman, and this could present a major stumbling block in the prospective deal.
Arsenal Shouldn't Pay £90m for Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palacevia Reuters
Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100million earlier this summer, while Mateus Fernandes also joined the Lilywhites for an astronomical fee, and Manchester City paid £116million for Elliot Anderson. This is the going rate for midfielders, and thus, it's no surprise that Newcastle want upwards of £90million for their captain.
That said, there is a key difference with Guimaraes which Arsenal simply must consider before splashing this outlandish fee on him. While the aforementioned trio of midfielders are all 26 and under, the Brazilian will turn 29 in November.
Guimaraes is arguably the most talented of the lot, but his age profile should prompt the Gunners to carefully consider how much they're willing to spend to bring him to North London.
When spending money on a player, how many years of service you're likely to get from the player in question, in their prime, ought to influence how big you're willing to go. Arsenal may get two or three seasons of Guimaraes' best level, but beyond that there are question marks.
The fee for Fernandes may seem steep right now, but the Portuguese is 21, and Spurs could have him at his best for nine seasons. Essentially, given the deal came to £85million in total, the Lilywhites may end up paying around £9million per season for the former West Ham United man at his best.
If Arsenal get three great seasons before Guimaraes starts to decline, then their cost per season will equate to £30million. This outlay could also, in turn, prevent them from doing another piece of business they need to get done.
Of course, if Arsenal win another Premier League title or a Champions League during these three years, and Guimaraes plays a significant role in this triumph, the £90million outlay could be justified. However, it's certainly food for thought for Arteta and Berta.
A fee in the region of £65million to £70million would feel much more comfortable.
Arsenal Should Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi Instead
Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for Morocco at the 2026 World CupBurt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA
If Newcastle remain stubborn with their £90million valuation of Guimaraes, then Arsenal should pivot to an alternative. The Gunners have been linked with a host of younger midfielders, including the likes of Alex Scott and Manu Kone, but they should ultimately turn towards Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Arsenal have reportedly submitted a £52million offer for Bouaddi, though Lille are understood to be wanting more than £60million for him. His price tag may even have gone up after his World Cup performances and the inflated value of transfers elsewhere. The 18-year-old has made waves in Ligue 1 over the last two seasons and is ready for a step-up to a more challenging league, even at his tender age.
While he may not be ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League, he can develop at Arsenal over the next few years, with a view to him succeeding someone like Declan Rice in the future. He has superstar potential, with his ability to carry the ball aggressively through the lines and disrupt opposition attacks remarkably impressive given how young he is.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Some may argue that this move would leave Arsenal short on ready-made midfielders to compete on four fronts next season. However, the Gunners delivered a Premier League title last season with their existing cohort in this department, with the likes of Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly more than capable of holding down the fort across four competitions.
In fact, the stronger argument is that Arsenal don't need a win-now signing in this position, and should instead be looking at their succession plans for the likes of Rice, Zubimendi and Merino. In three years, all three of these players could be past their best, and signing Guimaraes would do little to solve this issue.
However, Bouaddi, described by Morroco teammate Chemsdine Talbi as a "top-level player", alongside Lewis-Skelly would set up Arsenal's double pivot for years to come.
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palace Related
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