Arsenal nears £80m deal for Newcastle captain Guimaraes

Premier League club Arsenal is reportedly nearing a deal to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, with sources indicating growing confidence that the transfer could be finalized soon. Reports suggest Arsenal is preparing an improved offer, potentially reaching £80 million, after an initial £70 million bid was insufficient.

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Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, with reports indicating growing confidence that a deal could be completed in the coming days.

Guimaraes, a 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder, has reportedly made it clear he wishes to join Arsenal. He has been a key player for Newcastle since joining from Lyon in January 2022, scoring 31 goals in 195 appearances and earning 48 caps for Brazil. His potential move to the Emirates Stadium is seen as a priority for Arsenal, who missed out on another target, Morgan Rogers.

The reported breakthrough in negotiations comes at a challenging time for Newcastle. Manager Eddie Howe stepped down after five years on Thursday, and the club has already seen players like Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon depart this summer. However, BBC Sport reports that Arsenal's pursuit of Guimaraes is independent of Howe's departure.

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there is increasing expectation that the Brazil midfielder will complete a move to the Emirates this summer after making it clear he wants to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Guimaraes is expected to return to Newcastle training shortly as speculation surrounding his future intensifies. Arsenal remains hopeful of reaching an agreement before the transfer window closes, aiming to secure a significant midfield reinforcement.

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Arsenal’s pursuit of Guimaraes is unrelated to Howe’s departure, with the north London club having identified the Brazilian as a priority target after missing out on Morgan Rogers, who instead joined Chelsea.