Premier League champions Arsenal have launched a £70million bid for top transfer target Bruno Guimaraes.
The BBC reports that Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign the Brazilian midfielder, with the Newcastle captain also keen on a switch to North London this summer, a stance the Gunners are aware of.
Talks are believed to have accelerated in recent days, but Newcastle have so far been unwilling to entertain a sale for their star player.
Eddie Howe has already lost both Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali for big money in the last few months, with the pair joining Barcelona and Tottenham respectively.
Guimaraes remains their prized possession, and they value him higher than the £70m offer Arsenal have placed.
The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract, which plays into the Gunners not being willing to overpay for his services.
Previous outlets have claimed it would take a near £100m bid for Newcastle to soften their stance on the World Cup star, but Arsenal will not go anywhere near that number.
Arsenal licking Rogers wounds
The bid to sign Guimaraes comes days after Arsenal missed out on signing Morgan Rogers.
Chelsea swooped in at the last minute to sign the 23-year-old for £117m, making him the most expensive British player ever.
The Gunners were given the chance to match their rivals’ offer, but once again declined as it exceeded their valuation of the midfielder.
There is also interest in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, with enquiries made over his availability following a strong showing at the World Cup.
Is Guimaraes a good fit for Arsenal?
Guimaraes has admirers all over Europe, but a move to Arsenal would represent a real coup for the champions.
He would feature alongside Declan Rice in the heart of midfield, where the pair’s physicality and technical quality would complement each other.
That is despite Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi for that position only a year ago.
Guimaraes has been the heartbeat of a Newcastle side who have played Champions League football on multiple occasions in recent years.
His goalscoring instincts, range of passing and excellent engine make him almost untouchable at St James’ Park.
But with his head clearly turned by the Gunners, a move could still happen by the time the 2026/27 Premier League campaign gets underway next month.