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Arsenal are reportedly ready to ramp up their interest in Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães, with the Brazilian midfielder emerging as Mikel Arteta’s preferred target as the Gunners look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The North London club have been active in the transfer market this summer and have made midfield reinforcement one of their key priorities. Arsenal have assessed a number of potential options over recent months, but circumstances in the market have pushed Guimarães back to the top of the club’s shortlist.
Arteta is believed to be a long-time admirer of the Brazil international, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders since joining Newcastle from French side Lyon in 2022. His leadership qualities, technical ability and influence in both attacking and defensive phases have made him one of the most important players at St James’ Park.
Arsenal had also considered alternative targets. Mateus Fernandes was among the names monitored by the club before the midfielder completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur. Bournemouth youngster Alex Scott was another player admired by Arsenal’s recruitment team, but the Cherries have remained firm in their stance that the England youth international is not available for transfer this summer.
With those options proving difficult to secure, attention has once again shifted towards Guimarães.
Despite growing speculation, formal negotiations between Arsenal and Newcastle have not yet begun. However, reports suggest discussions could gather pace in the coming days if Arsenal decide to test Newcastle’s resolve with an official approach.
Securing the midfielder will not be easy. Newcastle have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of selling their captain and view him as a central figure in Eddie Howe’s long-term project. The club are under no immediate financial pressure to sell and are expected to demand a massive fee before even considering negotiations.
According to reports, any potential deal could require an offer close to the £100 million package Tottenham recently paid for Sandro Tonali. Such a valuation reflects Guimarães’ importance to Newcastle both on and off the pitch.
The 28-year-old is currently enjoying a short break following Brazil’s FIFA World Cup campaign and is expected to return to pre-season training next week before joining Newcastle’s training camp in Spain.
Arsenal’s renewed pursuit comes after several transfer frustrations, including Chelsea’s successful move for Morgan Rogers and Bournemouth’s refusal to entertain offers for Scott. As a result, Guimarães now appears to be the player Arteta wants most as he seeks to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours this season.
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