Newcastle star Bruno Guimarães has been linked with Arsenal for well over a year, but this summer's transfer window feels different.
Rather than simply admiring the Newcastle captain from afar, the Premier League champions appear to be edging closer to testing the Magpies' resolve with a serious offer.
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Arsenal's interest has never completely disappeared since Andrea Berta arrived as sporting director, and Guimaraes has remained one of the club's priority midfield targets because of the complete package he offers.
Mikel Arteta wants midfielders capable of controlling the biggest matches while also contributing at both ends of the pitch, and Guimaraes ticks every box.
The Brazilian combines relentless work rate with excellent technical quality, presses aggressively, protects his defence and has developed into a genuine attacking threat over the past two seasons.
Even during Newcastle's disappointing 25/26 campaign, he remained one of the club's standout performers, finishing as their leading Premier League goalscorer with nine league goals despite operating from midfield.
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His influence eventually saw him retain the captain's armband at St James' Park, and Arsenal also know exactly what they would be buying.
Guimaraes has now spent more than four years in the Premier League after arriving from Lyon in January 2022. During that period he has established himself as one of England's finest all-round midfielders, making more than 150 league appearances for Newcastle while becoming a regular for Brazil.
Newcastle's public position has remained consistent throughout the summer.
Club officials have insisted their captain is not for sale, while Eddie Howe recently described Guimaraes as a hugely important player and admitted he hopes the Brazilian remains on Tyneside despite uncertainty surrounding his future.
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Howe also acknowledged that transfer decisions ultimately sit above the manager, leaving room for speculation to continue as Arsenal monitor developments.
Arsenal told price Newcastle will sell Bruno Guimarães for
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According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Arsenal's confidence may be growing.
Speaking about the situation, Crook said he believes Guimaraes will eventually become an Arsenal player despite Newcastle's insistence that he is unavailable.
He suggested that an offer worth somewhere around the £80 million mark would be immediately accepted by Newcastle, particularly after a difficult campaign and an expensive summer rebuild.
Crook's comments arrive as reports continue to suggest Arsenal have already held talks with Guimaraes' representatives to outline their interest, with the midfielder equally keen to join them.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are believed to value their captain considerably higher than Arsenal's expected opening offer, meaning negotiations could still prove lengthy.
Adding Guimaraes would give Arteta another elite midfielder capable of controlling matches alongside Martin Ødegaard while also easing the burden on Declan Rice.
Martin-Odegaard-Arsenal
His versatility would allow Arsenal to rotate without sacrificing quality, but whether they reach Newcastle's valuation amid Berta's ambitious chase for Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Jr remains to be seen.
The Magpies are also determined to keep hold of one of their most influential players, with Guimaraes unlikely to 'do an Isak' and force his way out of Newcastle given his love for the club.
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