Arsenal transfer news moved into a more serious phase this week after The Times confirmed that formal talks between Arsenal and Newcastle United have now begun over a deal for Bruno Guimaraes. Arsenal initially made a verbal approach through intermediaries at the end of June, their first concrete move after months of circling, and a second bid worth more than €80 million is now reportedly being prepared, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Arsenal transfer news: Gunners table fresh offer as Guimaraes saga intensifies
The Brazilian midfielder had arguably the best individual campaign of his career in 2025/26, registering nine goals and five assists across 30 Premier League appearances, with a FotMob average rating of 7.63 that placed him among the top-rated central midfielders in the division. He scored vital goals at critical moments and consistently controlled matches in a way that few Newcastle players have done in the modern era. The fact that he finished as Newcastle’s top scorer from midfield tells you everything about how central he was to their entire attacking structure.
Guimaraes, 28 years old, is understood to be desperate to make the move, which rather undermines Newcastle’s public stance that he isn’t available. Eddie Howe’s side have insisted their captain stays, yet when a player of this profile openly communicates a desire to leave, clubs tend to find their resolve tested by the right number.
Arsenal transfer news: The fee gap is the real story
Here is where the negotiation gets complicated. Arsenal have apparently signalled willingness to go beyond $100 million, but The Telegraph reports that Newcastle are holding out for something closer to the $124 million that Tottenham paid for Sandro Tonali. That’s a significant gap, and Newcastle, having finished outside the top four in 2025/26, aren’t under any financial pressure to sell cheaply or quickly.
Mikel Arteta has wanted a controlling, dynamic midfielder capable of operating at both ends of the pitch and doing so consistently at a Premier League title-winning level.
Arsenal won the league last season, and the ambition now is clearly to build a squad that can sustain that across multiple years rather than relying on one golden run. Guimaraes fits that vision almost perfectly. He presses, he creates, he scores, and he does it all with a composure that suggests the size of the occasion doesn’t concern him. The negotiations feel real now in a way they didn’t a few weeks ago. Newcastle’s resistance is legitimate, but their captain has made his preference known.
VF’s Opinion:
At VF, we believe Arsenal are right to push hard here. Guimaraes is genuinely one of the two or three best central midfielders in the Premier League right now, and players of that calibre don’t become available very often. The price Newcastle are demanding feels steep, but it’s not unreasonable for someone who just posted nine goals and five assists from the base of midfield. Arsenal should get this one done, even if it means going uncomfortably close to $120 million. The player clearly wants to come.
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Rohit Sarkar
Rohit Sarkar is a passionate writer with a deep love for multiple sports, but his favourites are football and cricket. Since 2017, he has been covering football and cricket news with a keen eye for detail and compelling storytelling. He is a fan of the beautiful game and a specialist…