Arsenal are keen to land the £100m star on personal terms that have now been agreed
Arsenal are looking for a new midfielder this summer, with Martin Zubimendi replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in the starting XI towards the end of last season.
Gary Neville strongly criticized Zubimendi during the campaign, saying: “I thought at the beginning of the season Zubimendi was a great player. He was a good player at Arsenal, but at the moment I expected Zubimendi to be the player.
“What do you think he is (Andrea) Pirlo, or (Paul) Scholes or Rodri, Bernardo Silva – a player who knows how to play in a game like this, get Arsenal on the ball, organize and get them with authority and he doesn’t show it. He struggles in games and has done this for a few weeks now.”
Since then, Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as a target for the Gunners, while the Newcastle United star is keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, along with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Luke Edwards drops Bruno Guimaraes in Arsenal update
Newcastle reporter Luke Edwards has now taken to X to drop an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Guimaraes, saying they will take it one step further.
“My thoughts on Bruno and Arsenal are as follows. Arsenal like him, Bruno likes them. But there is a big difference between wanting a player for £50m and wanting that player for almost double the price.
“I’m sure that Arsenal will test the waters again. As we saw with Isak last summer, nothing is said to be for sale.”
Having raised £100m from the sale of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur, the Magpies are keen to match the same fee for another midfielder.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
Arsenal are keen to strengthen their midfield, but as Edwards points out, they may have to shell out £100m, especially considering Guimaraes will turn 29 in November. |
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Finance |
The £100m fee would make the Brazilian the Gunners’ second most expensive signing in history, behind potential midfield partner Declan Rice. However, north Londoners are in a tough financial position, as revealed by David Ornstein. |
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Understanding |
The 28-year-old is now a seasoned Premier League player, scoring 30 goals and providing 26 assists in 153 top-flight appearances for Newcastle. He is a seasoned international player, having started all five of Brazil’s World Cup matches. |
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Impact |
Should Arsenal do a deal, Lewis-Skelly could be moved back to left-back. Mikel Arteta will also be a force deep in the midfield, which will be needed, given that Rice will enter the campaign after a deep World Cup game against England. |
Eddie Howe will probably be hesitant to lose the “incredible” Guimaraes.
Having already lost Tonali this summer, Eddie Howe may be worried about the Gunners’ interest in Guimaraes, especially as he has singled out the central midfielder to his high praise.
The Newcastle boss said: “I think he is world class. And I don’t say that lightly. He has amazing qualities and an unbelievable attitude towards life and football. He wears his heart on his sleeve – you never guess how he feels! The fans really see his passion for football and Newcastle.”
The Brazilian star created 45 chances in the Premier League last season, 13 more than his nearest rival Tonali, and an average of 2.3 shots in 90 put him second in the team.
Therefore, Guimaraes could be a real difference maker for Arsenal, but they should be aware that they can be held to ransom by Newcastle, given his age.
