Riccardo Calafiori has stated that Arsenal requires players of the caliber of Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior to successfully defend their Premier League title.
The Gunners are reportedly close to finalizing a £75 million transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, concluding a protracted pursuit that has spanned a significant portion of the summer. Guimaraes is awaiting authorization to leave Newcastle's training facilities in La Manga, Spain, to complete the necessary procedures for his transfer to north London.
Arsenal is also reportedly pursuing Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. His contract with Real Madrid is set to expire next summer, and securing his signature is expected to be a more challenging endeavor as the Spanish club aims to retain him.
When asked about Arsenal's need for players like Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior following a 3-1 defeat against Real Betis, Calafiori indicated that new signings are essential. "We are on that level now. We are on top. We want to win the league again, we want to be even better than last season if we can. We need these kind of players I think," he said.
Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, has reportedly expressed a desire to move to Arsenal if a suitable offer was presented. Newcastle and Arsenal have been in discussions regarding the final terms of the deal, and an agreement is considered a formality.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has reportedly offered Vinicius Junior improved contract terms exceeding £19 million per year and is awaiting his response. The Brazil international's current contract with Madrid concludes at the end of the next season, and Arsenal has signaled its readiness to pursue the player if an agreement with the Spanish club is not reached.
Discussions between Vinicius Junior's representatives, Real Madrid general director Jose Angel Sanchez, and chief scout Juni Calafat took place earlier this week. Despite increased confidence from Real Madrid about retaining the player, Vinicius Junior added to speculation by deleting his entire Instagram history, leaving his page with no posts or profile picture.