Arsenal have begun direct negotiations with Newcastle United over the signing of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after the player informed his club he wants to join the Premier League champions ahead of the new season.
The 28-year-old has told Newcastle he wishes to leave for Arsenal, according to the UK newspaper The Sun, having previously been the subject of only indirect discussions conducted through intermediaries. Newcastle have repeatedly insisted their influential midfielder is not for sale.
Through those intermediaries, Arsenal are understood to have indicated a willingness to pay £60m for the former Lyon player, but Newcastle are holding out in an effort to secure a higher fee before agreeing to any deal.
The move comes as Arsenal step up efforts to strengthen their midfield and attacking options out wide during the current summer transfer window.
Arsenal turn to Guimaraes after losing out to Chelsea
Arsenal’s push for Guimaraes follows their failure to land Morgan Rogers, with Chelsea winning the race for the forward after a late intervention in talks with Aston Villa.
Arsenal had been in negotiations with Villa since the end of last season, but were unwilling to come close to the £117m valuation set by the Midlands club. Chelsea then moved quickly, agreeing to meet Villa’s asking price and finalising the transfer.
That setback has sharpened Arsenal’s focus on securing other priority targets, with central midfield seen as a key area to refresh following last season’s title-winning campaign.
Newcastle seek premium price for Brazil international
Newcastle, keen to retain one of their top performers, are understood to be resisting Arsenal’s opening stance, aiming to extract the maximum possible sum for Guimaraes.
The Brazilian has been a central figure at St James’ Park since his arrival from Lyon, and Newcastle’s reluctance to sell reflects both his importance to Eddie Howe’s side and the club’s desire to remain competitive while navigating financial regulations.
While Arsenal’s initial readiness to pay £60m signals strong intent, the gap between that figure and Newcastle’s expectations is likely to shape how quickly – or whether – any agreement can be reached.
Other midfield options prove costly or unavailable
Guimaraes is not the only midfielder Arsenal have assessed this summer.
The London club had previously explored a move for Matheus Fernandes, who has since joined Tottenham Hotspur. However, the £85m fee required for that transfer was also deemed too high by Arsenal’s hierarchy.
Another target under consideration was Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. Although Scott recently turned down a new contract offer from Bournemouth, the south-coast club remain determined to keep him and have resisted Arsenal’s interest.
The pattern reflects a challenging market for top-level midfielders, with Premier League clubs demanding significant sums for key assets, forcing Arsenal to weigh their options carefully as they seek to reinforce a title-winning squad.
Tzolis deal close as Arsenal strengthen flanks
While negotiations continue over Guimaraes, Arsenal are close to completing a separate deal to bolster their attacking options.
The club have agreed a £34m fee with Club Bruges for winger Christos Tzolis. The former Norwich City player is in London this week to undergo a medical ahead of finalising his move to the Emirates Stadium.
The signing of Tzolis would add depth and versatility to Arsenal’s wide areas, complementing their pursuit of a high-profile central midfielder.
If Arsenal can also strike a deal with Newcastle for Guimaraes, it would represent a major statement of intent as they look to defend their Premier League crown and build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts next season.
