Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes by opening direct talks with Newcastle over a deal for the Brazilian midfielder.
Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Bruno Guimarães by opening direct talks with Newcastle United over a deal for the Brazilian midfielder, according to a fresh report from The Times.
The Premier League champions have admired Guimarães for a considerable period, but negotiations are now said to have progressed beyond initial interest, with Arsenal entering discussions with Newcastle as they look to complete one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
According to The Times, Arsenal had previously tested Newcastle’s resolve through intermediaries with an offer worth around £60 million. That proposal was rejected, but the report claims the Gunners have now opened direct negotiations in an attempt to find an agreement with Eddie Howe’s side.
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The report adds that Guimarães is keen on the move to north London, with the Brazil international believed to have expressed his desire to join Mikel Arteta’s project. That represents a significant boost for Arsenal, who have identified the Newcastle captain as one of their priority midfield targets.
While Newcastle remain reluctant to lose one of their most influential players, The Times reports they could consider a sale if Arsenal increase their offer to around £75 million. The Magpies have already generated substantial funds this summer through the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, but Guimarães’ future is now firmly under the spotlight.
The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders since arriving from Lyon in 2022. Last season he registered nine goals and five assists despite missing two months through injury, with his technical quality, ball-carrying ability and press resistance making him one of the most complete midfielders in English football.
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Arteta is understood to value those attributes highly as he looks to further strengthen his title-winning squad ahead of another campaign competing for both the Premier League and Champions League.
Arsenal’s financial position has also improved significantly following the club’s new commercial agreement with Emirates, providing greater flexibility as they continue to pursue elite-level additions this summer. The Times suggests that increased commercial revenue has strengthened Arsenal’s ability to compete for high-value transfers such as Guimarães.
Although no agreement has yet been reached, Arsenal’s move into direct negotiations marks the clearest indication yet that the club are serious about signing Guimarães.
With the player reportedly open to the transfer and talks now underway between the two clubs, Arsenal’s pursuit of the Newcastle captain is shaping up to be one of the defining stories of the remainder of the summer transfer window.
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Bruno Guimaraes