Bruno Guimaraes' long-term pursuit of Arsenal appears to have taken another significant step, with the Newcastle captain now informing the club that he wants to leave and complete a move to the Premier League champions.
The Gunners have been tracking the Brazilian throughout the summer, having an initial approach worth around £55 million rejected, but recent reports suggest Arsenal are preparing a comeback as Guimaraes wants a transfer.
The 28-year-old has been Newcastle's most influential player since arriving from Lyon in January 2022, but last season he underlined his importance more than ever.
Guimaraes captained Eddie Howe's side in a difficult campaign, making 39 appearances in all competitions and finishing as Newcastle's top scorer in the Premier League with nine goals, the best tally of his career.
Apart from his team form, he also impressed for Brazil at the World Cup overall, despite missing a penalty against Norway, providing four assists in five games before being sent off.
Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope has shared some interesting details about Arsenal's pursuit of the midfielder.
Arsenal are studying the small value of Bruno Guimaraes as they 'surprised' Newcastle
The prospect supports other reports that Guimaraes has told Newcastle he wants to join Arsenal, although Howe's side will only enter formal talks if approached directly by the north Londoners.
He also says a second verbal offer has been discussed behind the scenes, with sources believing the £75 million figure would be insufficient to make progress.
That leaves Arsenal with an important decision. The interest is clearly genuine, but Newcastle remain reluctant to lose another mainstay of Eddie Howe's side after sanctioning a top-flight move this summer.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
Craig Hope is regarded as one of the most reliable journalists covering Newcastle. As the Daily Mail's north-east football reporter, he has been breaking the most accurate stories about the club, particularly around transfers and internal matters. His specialty in Newcastle is highly regarded and often confirmed by other established journalists. |
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Finance |
The £75 million deal will make Guimaraes one of Arsenal's biggest signings. He currently earns around £160,000-a-week at Newcastle, meaning Arsenal may need to improve those terms. However, the reported price is lower than most top level midfielders with similar quality and experience. It's also worth noting that, although his current deal expires in 2028, the Magpies are protected by a 12-month extension clause. |
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Understanding |
Guimaraes came through Athletico Paranaense before joining Lyon and becoming a midfield leader at Newcastle. An international and Olympic gold medalist, he has developed into one of Europe's best midfielders, captaining Newcastle and leading them to their first major trophy since the 1950s in 2025. |
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Impact |
Guimaraes would add another dimension to Arsenal's midfield and could complement Rice, Odegaard and Zubimendi well. After scoring nine Premier League goals last season while holding down Newcastle's midfield, he has shown he can impact games at both ends of the pitch. |
Newcastle officials are said to be 'surprised' that, despite ongoing discussions with intermediaries, no club-to-club contact has been made from the Arsenal end.
From Arsenal's point of view, however, Guimaraes represents exactly the kind of midfielder who can take an already outstanding team to the next level.
Why Guimaraes could be a good fit for Arsenal
His numbers only tell half the story.
Along with those nine Premier League goals, Guimarães has continued to dominate Newcastle's midfield, and there are few English midfielders who influence games at both ends of the pitch so consistently.
You scored a goal
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He would lift Arsenal in no time.
Guimaraes will be paired with Declan Rice, while Martin Odegaard will play in advanced positions.
He could combine those two roles perfectly, providing wisdom and leadership from deep positions.
His performances throughout 25/26 proved that, and if Arsenal are determined to stay at the top of English football and challenge for the Champions League, signing Guimaraes will undoubtedly strengthen the only place the club can get even better.
That said, his arrival will likely mean the end of Christian Norgaard, and Arsenal are believed to be open to an offer for the Dane.
