Arsenal agree personal terms with Bruno Guimaraes as £70m bid readied for Newcastle star

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Bruno Guimaraes on personal terms and are preparing a £70m offer to Newcastle United for the Brazil midfielder, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.

The London club are set to make a formal proposal worth £70m in the current summer transfer window, although Newcastle are expected to reject that opening bid. Despite that, Arsenal’s hierarchy are described as confident they can eventually complete a deal for one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.

Manager Mikel Arteta is understood to be driving the pursuit and has placed Guimaraes at the top of his list of targets as he looks to strengthen his squad before the new season.

Arteta makes Guimaraes top midfield priority

Arteta has made the recruitment of a central midfielder a key part of Arsenal’s summer plans and sees Guimaraes as the ideal addition to his side. The 26-year-old has become the primary target for that position, with Arteta pushing hard for a player he believes can significantly raise the team’s level.

Newcastle, however, are determined to keep one of their leading players and remain keen for Guimaraes to stay at St James’ Park. The club view the Brazilian as central to their ambitions and are not inclined to sell easily, increasing the likelihood of a drawn-out negotiation.

Even so, Arsenal’s willingness to commit a substantial fee and their agreement over the player’s personal terms underline the seriousness of their interest as talks move towards a decisive phase.

Brazil World Cup campaign showcases Guimaraes

Guimaraes heads into the new club season on the back of a prominent role with Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, where he spent the summer with the national team.

Brazil exited the tournament in the last 16 after a surprise defeat by Norway, but Guimaraes produced several eye-catching performances before the early elimination. Over the course of the competition, he registered four assists across Brazil’s matches against Morocco, Scotland and Japan, underlining his creativity and influence from midfield.

Those displays have reinforced his status as one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe and added further weight to Arsenal’s belief that he can make an immediate impact in the Premier League.

While Newcastle continue to hold firm over a player they regard as one of their brightest stars, Arsenal’s move to finalise personal terms with Guimaraes is a significant step in a transfer battle that is set to be one of the major stories of the current window.