Bruno Guimaraes makes Arsenal transfer decision as Gunners prepare new offer

Arsenal have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes (Picture: Getty)

Bruno Guimaraes has reportedly told Newcastle’s hierarchy that he wishes to leave the club and join

Arsenal

Newcastle have already lost one midfielder to north London this summer, with Sandro Tonali completing a switch to Tottenham in a deal which could reach up to £100million.

But there has also been no shortage of interest in Guimaraes in recent months, and Arsenal have emerged as the clear frontrunners to prise the sought-after 28-year-old away from St James’ Park.

According to

The Athletic

, the Gunners have ‘stepped up’ their pursuit for Guimaraes, making it clear to their Premier League rivals that they would be prepared to splash out up to £60m on the Brazil international.

Wow (Picture: Getty)

The report claims both Mikel Arteta and Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta are ‘determined to get their man’ and Guimaraes has informed Newcastle of his desire to push through a move to the Emirates.

The same publication reported in June that Newcastle had knocked back a verbal offer from Arsenal which fell below that figure – and there has been no direct contact between the two clubs since.

If Arsenal get their way, Guimaraes would become the third high-profile figure to depart the Magpies this summer, following in the footsteps of Tonali and Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon.

Guimaraes’ Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup by Norway on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

The Brazilian skippered Newcastle to a first domestic trophy in 70 years (Picture: Getty)

Guimareas – who has also been heavily linked with Manchester United – joined Newcastle on a four-year deal from Lyon back in 2022, in an agreement believed to be worth in the region of £40m.

In that time, he has made a total of 195 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle, racking up 31 goals and 32 assists, while captaining the Toon to Carabao Cup glory to end the club’s painful 70-year wait for domestic silverware.

Eddie Howe has repeatedly played down speculation that Guimaraes could be set for a big-money transfer move, telling reporters in March: ‘I don’t even know how to respond [to the rumours]. It is a waste of my energy.

‘Bruno is our captain and he is fully committed at the moment.’

Howe appointed Guimareas captain two years ago (Picture: Getty)

The Newcastle head coach stressed that Guimaraes remained fully committed to the cause on Tyneside while branding such speculation both ‘nonsense’ and ‘disrespectful’.

‘Is it a problem for us? I don’t necessarily think it is a problem for us, but it is unwanted news, I suppose, is the best way to put it,’ he added..

‘You don’t want the players distracted, but I don’t know how much they will absorb that.

Arteta and Berta are ‘determined’ to get a deal over the line for the Newcastle captain (Picture: Getty)

‘For me, it is not the time to think about it. In the summer, you can understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open.

‘To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else, he is totally committed here.

‘I’m not going to be impolite because I don’t think it’s the forum to do that in. For me, it’s a nonsense story.’

Arsenal have also been working on a deal for free agent Meslier (Picture: Getty)

The permanent arrival of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen remains Arsenal’s only piece of summer business thus far, with the Gunners exercising their option to sign the Ecuador defender for £34.5m following an initial loan.

However,

the English champions are expected to officially confirm the signing of Illan Meslier on a free transfer

over the coming days.

Meslier’s contract with Leeds United came to an end last month and the French goalkeeper is believed to have undergone a medical with Arsenal on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old shot-stopper will likely be brought in as a back-up option to undisputed number one

David Raya

, with

Kepa Arrizabalaga reportedly open to the prospect of leaving the club this summer

Home

divider

Sport

Football

Manchester United back on for cash injection to fund transfers as 'four-year contract accepted':Manchester United's 40% sell-on clause for Mason Greenwood could net them £13m as his transfer from Marseille to Fenerbahce is reportedly back on, boosting their summer transfer funds.

Rogers determined to stay grounded amid transfer talk and England rise:Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, an Arsenal target, discusses handling transfer speculation while focused on improving with England at the World Cup.

Bruno Guimaraes: Man United risk losing race to Arsenal for Newcastle star:Arsenal are accelerating a move for Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, with a £60m offer planned. The Brazilian midfielder wants the move. Meanwhile, Man Utd have signed Andrey Santos for £50m but miss out on key targets.

Actualités

Détail