Arsenal step up bid to sign Newcastle’s Guimaraes

Newcastle's in-form midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is attracting interest from Premier League champions Arsenal according to recent reports. The 28-year-old Brazil international impressed last season with 9 goals and 8 assists across all competitions. Arsenal had previously made a £70 million (£93 million) offer to Newcastle, which was rejected.

The Gunners, who failed to match Chelsea's record £117 million bid for England's Morgan Rogers, are keen to sign Newcastle's captain to bolster their squad. Newcastle, who paid £35 million for Guimaraes from Lyon in 2022, are determined to keep hold of the player following a transfer saga similar to the one that resulted in Alexander Isak moving to Liverpool last year.

Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle as manager last week, had expressed concerns about losing Guimaraes. The Brazilian player, who is currently on Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain following Brazil's World Cup exit, is unlikely to be with the Magpies when they start their title defense against Coventry on August 21. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not made any public comments about his interest in Guimaraes, but he emphasized the club's ambition and desire to increase competition within the squad.