Bruno Guimaraes' potential arrival at Arsenal could lead to one of Mikel Arteta's main men heading for the exit door.
The Gunners are chasing Guimaraes, and he is keen to make the move to the Emirates. He is reportedly 'frustrated' at Newcastle United, who don't want to sell their skipper after selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100 million.
Guimaraes' clear desire to join Arteta's champions could prove crucial for the North Londoners. He has been one of the Premier League's best midfielders since joining the Tyneside outfit from Lyon back in January 2022.
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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts
Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - December 20, 2025 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Guimaraes would be another superstar added to Arteta's midfield, and his acquisition might lead to a big-name exit. A report from TEAMtalk claims that Arsenal are hopeful a deal can be done at around £75 million and could then entertain offers for Martin Odegaard if the price is right.
Odegaard lifted the Premier League title last season and has been one of the Gunners' key men during his time at the Emirates. The Norweigan made a permanent switch back in the summer of 2021 after spending a season on loan from Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old has endured injury issues in recent seasons, and that might be factored into any decision over his future. When he was fit last season, he fared well but ended the campaign on the substitutes' bench on several occasions.
It is noted that Odegaard's chances of leaving this summer aren't high, but an exit can't be ruled out entirely. He faces an important season if he does remain with Arteta's side, as a move next year is said to be looking "increasingly possible."
There has been "serious interest" in the Norweigan, but there is a lack of desire to match the Premier League giants' asking price. He has two years left on his contract, which puts the club in a position to start considering his future.
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Martin Odegaard and Mikel Arteta
Odegaard has been heroic for large portions of his spell at Arsenal but isn't quite pulling the strings as he was at the start of his Emirates career. Recurring fitness issues are proving problematic, and he's no longer an undisputed starter.
Should the Gunners sign Guimaraes, there's a real chance that Odegaard heads for the exit door if not this summer, then next. Even when fit, he has come under scrutiny for uninspired performances and question marks over his leadership.
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It shouldn't take selling the Norweigan for Arteta to realise that he has an ideal captain in Declan Rice, who called his skipper 'one of the best players in the league'. But it could be the catalyst for a proper leader to be wearing the armband while the club move on from the playmaker.