Arsenal transfer state of play as Bruno Guimaraes chase takes twist after offer for £80m star

Alex Scott is the latest midfielder Arsenal have made overtures to as they attempt to enhance the squad that won the Premier League title last season.

After three years of coming up just short in the title race, Mikel Arteta oversaw the Gunners' first league success since 2004 last month. And while the club may have been unable to follow that up with a maiden Champions League triumph, they are not resting on their laurels ahead of the new season and have aspirations of strengthening significantly in the transfer window.

As well as a desire to level up the left side of their attack, Arsenal are seeking further strength in midfield and hold an interest in Scott and the Newcastle duo, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

However, as their rivals Tottenham and Manchester United are finding in their pursuit of West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, proven Premier League midfielders are not easily attainable these days.

Fernandes is valued at £85million by West Ham , just shy of the £80m price tag that has been placed upon Scott. The 22-year-old's valuation is not the only obstacle Arsenal have encountered, either.

BBC Sport report they have now had an approach for the midfielder rebuffed by Bournemouth , whose insistence that one of the Premier League's most promising young players is not for sale this summer would seemingly make any prospective deal difficult.

It remains to be seen if Arsenal, or any of Scott's other suitors, will attempt to seriously test that stance. Bournemouth are attempting to tie Scott down to fresh terms with a new contract which would include a release clause.

Where that leaves Arsenal in their pursuit of another central midfielder remains to be seen.

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Newcastle have adopted an identical stance with Guimaraes, who they consider unsellable. Whether or not that will deter Arsenal from making further advances — they have already made contact through intermediaries and seen a verbal offer rebuffed — is up for debate and there are already rumblings that the club are ready to go back in for him.

The same report claims that a deal for Guimaraes is currently viewed as more likely than one for Tonali irrespective of Newcastle's refusal to countenance a sale. The sort of transfer fee it may take to force Newcastle into reneging on a deal for Guimaraes is likely to be vast and, perhaps questionable given the player turns 29 later this year. But at the same time, the Brazilian is a proven Premier League commodity and would be primed to make an instant impact.

Tonali is being pursued aggressively by Tottenham, while Manchester City are also admirers of the Italian and could be prepared to finance the significant figures it would take to satisfy Newcastle's demands.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest in other central midfielders, too, including Ayyoub Bouaddi who has enjoyed a highly impressive World Cup campaign with Morocco .

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Fernandes is another player to be touted with the Gunners and the longer a deal evades both Manchester United and Spurs, the prospect of other suitors coming to the table may well grow.

With Morgan Rogers emerging as Arsenal's priority attacking target, transfer funds will have to be proportioned appropriately with Aston Villa reportedly insistent that a British record fee be paid for the 23-year-old.

Whether that will have a direct impact on Arsenal's plans for central midfield remains to be seen. There are plenty of irons in the fire — only time will tell where they plan to strike.

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