Arsenal prepare £70m bid after Bruno Guimaraes tells Newcastle he wants Emirates move

Arsenal are readying a £70m offer for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes after the midfielder informed the club he wants to join the London side, according to reports in England.

The Premier League champions have intensified their pursuit of the Brazil international, with The Sun claiming Arsenal are set to submit a formal bid in the coming days to test Newcastle’s resolve.

Newcastle have been adamant they do not wish to sell their captain this summer, but Arsenal are pushing ahead with a package worth £70m in an attempt to force a breakthrough in negotiations.

Guimaraes has reportedly told Newcastle officials he is keen on a move to Emirates Stadium, a stance expected to accelerate talks between the clubs this week.

Arsenal raise offer as midfield becomes priority

Mikel Arteta has made the signing of a central midfielder one of Arsenal’s main priorities in the current transfer window, and Guimaraes is described as his leading target for the role.

The report adds that early indirect discussions took place through intermediaries, during which Arsenal signalled a willingness to go close to £60m. That figure has since been increased to £70m as the club look to convince Newcastle to part with one of their key players.

Arsenal’s interest comes despite Newcastle’s repeated insistence that Guimaraes is not for sale, setting up a potential stand-off between the clubs over the coming days.

Busy week in the market for Arsenal

Although Arsenal’s start to the summer window had been relatively quiet, the club completed several significant pieces of business on Thursday.

The Gunners finalised the signing of Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis in a £34m deal, adding further depth to their attacking options.

They also made defender Piero Hincapie’s stay permanent for another £34m after his loan spell from Bayer Leverkusen last season, while goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined on a free transfer.

However, Arsenal missed out on Morgan Rogers, who has moved to Chelsea in a £117m transfer from Aston Villa.

Arteta was understood to be a strong admirer of the English forward and had placed him high on his shortlist for the summer, but Arsenal’s hierarchy chose not to match the substantial offer submitted by Chelsea, prompting Villa to accept the bid.

Further reinforcements targeted

Despite those arrivals, Arsenal are still looking to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes. The club are targeting additions in three positions – centre-back, central midfield and centre-forward – according to The Sun.

Ezri Konsa is viewed as one of the leading candidates to bolster the defence, particularly after William Saliba was ruled out for several months with a back injury.

John Stones is also under consideration following the expiry of his contract with Manchester City at the end of last month, leaving the England defender available on a free transfer.

In attack, Arsenal remain interested in Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid are maintaining a firm stance over the Argentina international. The Spanish club have made it clear, both publicly and privately, that Alvarez is not on the market.

Liverpool lead race for Barcola

Elsewhere in Europe, Bradley Barcola could depart Paris St-Germain during the current window, with the France forward attracting interest from the Premier League.

Liverpool are currently regarded as the most likely destination for the 21-year-old should he leave PSG, with the Anfield club considered to be at the front of the queue for his signature.

For Arsenal, though, the immediate focus remains on whether their looming £70m bid can persuade Newcastle to part with Guimaraes – and whether the Brazilian’s desire for a move to Emirates Stadium proves decisive in one of the summer’s headline transfer stories.