Arsenal are interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and are preparing a second bid for the Brazil international after Newcastle's initial rejection
Arsenal are reportedly preparing a second offer for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after their initial £55m approach was rejected.
Reports emerged on Thursday suggesting the Gunners had set their sights on the 28-year-old Brazil international and had entered into discussions with his representatives. Newcastle, however, made their position abundantly clear — Guimaraes is not available.
Despite that firm stance, Arsenal are mulling over a fresh proposal and are expected to put it to the Magpies, according to the Daily Mail. Though it's understood Newcastle's position is unlikely to soften.
Guimaraes is currently lining up alongside Arsenal stars Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli for Brazil at the World Cup, and while he hasn't indicated to Newcastle that he wishes to leave, speculation surrounding a potential move continues to swirl.
The former Lyon man, who has been at St. James' Park since January 2022, has two years remaining on his deal. He has gone on to make 195 appearances for the Magpies, netting 31 goals, and played his part in ending the club's long wait for silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup during the 2024/25 season.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his midfield options ahead of Arsenal's Premier League title defence and has pinpointed Guimaraes as a primary target.
Were Arsenal to sign Guimaraes, he would face stiff competition from Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly for a starting berth next season.
Former Tottenham and Fulham striker Darren Bent believes Guimaraes would be far from guaranteed a place in Arteta's first XI. "If he wants to obviously play in the Champions League and the chance to win trophies then he's going to have to [agree to being a squad player]," the ex-forward told talkSPORT.
"He doesn't walk into any top side and start straight away. Man United he actually would. Arsenal just won the Premier League, but I think for Bruno, that's not the priority for me. Left wing is the one I'd go for first and then if there's a little spare change then you start strengthening."
Back in March, reports emerged that Manchester United were in 'advanced talks' to secure Guimaraes' signature. Newcastle manager Howe was quick to pour cold water on those claims, dismissing them as "nonsense".
He said: "I don't even know how to respond to that. I don't even think I should because it's a waste of my energy. I'm not going to be impolite because I don't think it's the forum to do that in. For me it's a nonsense story.
"Bruno's our captain, he's fully committed. He's injured at the moment, his only focus is coming back to fitness. For me, it is not the time to think about it.
"In the summer, you can understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open. To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else. He is totally committed here."
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