Arsenal are pushing to make Bruno Guimaraes the defining signing of their title defence, but Newcastle are determined to extract maximum value from any deal.
Mikel Arteta has long admired the Brazilian midfielder, with the Gunners reportedly exploring a move even before Newcastle signed him from Lyon for around £42 million in January 2022.
That signing proved transformational, with Guimaraes quickly becoming the heartbeat of Eddie Howe’s midfield and eventually being handed the captaincy.
He delivered Newcastle’s biggest moment for generations, lifting the Carabao Cup after victory over Liverpool in 2025.
Last season proved difficult for the club overall, but Guimaraes still produced the best scoring return of his career in England, managing nine goals across 39 appearances in all competitions.
Newcastle finished 12th and missed out on European football entirely, leaving their squad exposed to a summer of serious disruption.
Sandro Tonali has since joined Tottenham for £100 million, Anthony Gordon has moved on to Barcelona, and Howe resigned following a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s hierarchy, with Matthias Jaissle poised to take charge.
Losing Guimaraes on top of those departures would strip yet another leader from a side already facing a substantial rebuild heading into the new season.
Arsenal see an opportunity and have remained in persistent pursuit, believing the player’s desire to move and Newcastle’s changing circumstances will eventually unlock a deal.
Guimaraes would add proven quality and aggression to a midfield already containing Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi, while offering versatility across multiple midfield roles.
The pursuit became serious in June when Arsenal lodged a formal approach worth around £55 million via intermediaries, which Newcastle rejected immediately while insisting their captain was not for sale.
That stance has gradually softened, with Guimaraes reportedly agreeing personal terms and making clear to those around him that he wants the transfer to happen.
The Times reported that Newcastle then turned down a £75 million bid, with the Magpies believed to want a fee in excess of £80 million before granting their approval.
Other reports have suggested an agreement in principle could eventually reach that figure, with Arsenal already said to be planning logistics around a potential medical.
Brazilian journalist Raisa Simplicio has now reported that negotiations remain active between the two clubs and that Guimaraes’ representatives are optimistic a breakthrough can be reached imminently.
Fabrizio Romano has also claimed that Arsenal remain confident and are maintaining direct contact with Newcastle throughout this final and decisive stage of discussions.
Guimaraes is understood to be waiting for permission to travel once the clubs finally reach an agreement, with the coming hours potentially the most important in this long-running saga.
Arsenal stand on the brink of adding another proven Premier League leader to a title-winning squad, though Newcastle will not allow their captain to leave without a fight until the very end.