Arsenal are debating whether to continue with their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after reportedly being misled about the prospective price tag for the player, according to the Telegraph.
The Gunners are in the market for a new central midfielder this summer after Martin Zubimendi struggled in the latter half of last season. After initially being linked with up-and-coming youngsters such as Alex Scott and Ayyoub Bouaddi, reports emerged indicating that the North Londoners were attempting an audacious move to sign Guimaraes.
Sporting director Andrea Berta supposedly held talks with intermediaries about a potential cut-price deal for the Brazilian, with the Italian said to have received encouragement that Newcastle had an agreement with the player to sanction his departure for just £50 million.
With Arsenal discovering that no such agreement exists and that Newcastle actually want at least £80m, the North Londoners are now carefully considering their next steps in this saga.
Arsenal Weighing Up Next Move in Bruno Guimaraes Saga
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palacevia Reuters
Arsenal's initial strategy in central midfield this summer appeared to be centred around young players who could develop alongside some of the more established stars at the Emirates. Lille's Bouaddi was mooted as a serious target, while Bournemouth's Scott was also mentioned in conversations around the Gunners' approach in the market.
Out of nowhere, conflicting reports surfaced suggesting that Guimaraes is Berta's top target this summer.
It's believed that Arsenal sensed a market opportunity could be on the cards regarding the 28-year-old, and the Telegraph indicate that intermediaries hinted that a deal worth just £50 million was plausible.
Guimaraes signed a new contract in 2024, and there are some suggestions that, when in negotiations over this new deal, Newcastle promised the player that he could leave for a reduced price if Eddie Howe's side failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The Telegraph claim that they've discovered that, after consulting Magpies-linked Amanda Staveley, no such agreement was ever reached.
Instead, Newcastle remain staunch in their stance that Arsenal will have to stump up around £90 million to land the Brazil international's services, while they would also need to pay him £300,000-a-week.
The Gunners are cautious about overpaying for a player who turns 29 later this year, and will now consider their next move carefully before potentially turning to alternatives.
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Newcastle Owner Denies Bruno Guimaraes Update
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates on stage at Town Moor after the Carabao Cup win
Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards, who sourced the information detailing Arsenal's potential change in heart regarding Guimaraes, posted a link to his report on X.
Newcastle co-owner and husband of Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, replied to the post claiming that it was 'utter nonsense'.
This response has unsurprisingly sparked confusion amongst supporters online, with no one knowing what part of the Guimaraes saga to believe.
Whether Arsenal did indeed believe they could've signed Guimaraes for just £50 million isn't clear, while it's also not clear whether they're contemplating moving onto other targets.
Fabrizio Romano has previously reported that Arsenal lodged two unsuccessful bids for Guimaraes, both of which were over this reported £50 million valuation.
The next few weeks should provide clarity on what is quickly becoming the most convoluted transfer saga of the summer.