Arsenal is reportedly preparing to make an offer for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, following exploratory discussions about potential moves for the player and his club teammate Sandro Tonali. The North London club aims to bolster its midfield options during the upcoming transfer window.
During initial conversations to gauge the financial parameters of a deal for Guimaraes, a fee in the region of £60 million was suggested to the 28-year-old Brazilian international's representatives. Arsenal is now understood to be preparing a fresh offer as talks continue, though Newcastle has not yet received a formal approach.
Discussions have also reportedly occurred with representatives of Sandro Tonali as Arsenal explores multiple avenues to acquire a new central midfielder. The club's primary focus appears to be on signing one prominent central midfielder this summer. Other players being considered include Alex Scott of Bournemouth and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.
Newcastle United has already rejected an £80 million bid from Tottenham Hotspur for Tonali and is keen to retain Guimaraes, who serves as the team's captain and a key player. Guimaraes, with two years remaining on his contract, has been focused on his international duties with Brazil in the World Cup.
Newcastle is in a strong position to command a higher fee, potentially closer to £100 million, for Tonali. Manchester City is also reportedly monitoring the situation. Tonali recently signed a new contract extending his commitment to the club until 2030, a move made during his 10-month betting ban as a show of the club's support.
The current transfer market dynamics could potentially benefit Newcastle if a bidding war develops, given the valuations of other midfielders. Manchester City has agreed to a deal with Nottingham Forest for England's Elliot Anderson for a club record £116 million, and West Ham United is seeking up to £80 million for 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes.
Guimaraes, who will turn 29 in November, and Tonali, who recently turned 26, present differing age profiles that are likely to influence Arsenal's willingness to meet valuation demands. Sources indicate that Arsenal has also expressed significant interest in the 22-year-old Scott, who is also attracting attention from Manchester United and Chelsea. The club has also evaluated Morocco international Bouaddi and West Ham's Fernandes, a key target for Tottenham.
Arsenal's sporting director, Andrea Berta, is known for managing multiple transfer negotiations concurrently before finalizing decisions. The acquisition of a new central midfielder would likely lead to the sale of a current player in the same position, with Denmark's Christian Norgaard, 32, being available for offers. This move could also impact the regular starting role of Martin Zubimendi in Mikel Arteta's squad next season.