
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes remains a primary target and Eddie Howe’s sudden departure this week could give the Gunners the opening they’ve been waiting for. Keen to sign for Arsenal, the Brazilian's arrival at the Emirates Stadium this month would only add to the impressive depth in quality the Gunners possess in midfield.
There is every opportunity that Guimaraes could be joined in north London by his international team-mate Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid winger - who has a year left on his deal - is subject to interest from the Premier League champions.
The Gunners could now be forced to make a decision in their chase of the 26-year-old after Madrid reportedly made clear their stance on Vinicius' contract negotiations.
The future of Vinicius Jr has been a subject of considerable debate for some months, with the uncertainty prompting Arsenal to register their interest in landing the Brazilian star.
Efforts to secure a contract extension at Real Madrid have yet to yield a breakthrough, and it appears the Spanish giants are growing increasingly exasperated with the stalled progress.
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According to Marca, Jose Mourinho's side have submitted a final proposal to the 26-year-old, with no further salary improvements or additional rounds of negotiations anticipated. The Spanish publication claims that should Vinicius reject the offer, Madrid will look to cash in on him this summer.
The club's senior figures have reportedly rebuffed his demands to be placed on equal footing with their highest earner, Kylian Mbappe. Mourinho - who made his return to the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this summer - is understood to have personally informed the Brazilian of his desire for him to remain.
Months of efforts to secure a deal for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes appear to have finally paid off. According to L'Equipe, the Gunners have struck a £77million agreement with the Magpies for his signature, while bonuses and agent fees remain to be finalised.
Another beneficiary from the transaction is Guimaraes' previous club Lyon. The French side offloaded the midfielder to Newcastle for £40m in 2022, with the stipulation that the Ligue 1 outfit would collect 20% of the profit from any subsequent sale.
Should the ultimate fee rest at £77million, Lyon would be due almost £8million. The 28-year-old is eager to join the Premier League champions and his exit would represent the fourth significant summer departure from Newcastle, following Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and manager Howe.
The addition of the Brazil international would provide Arteta with crucial midfield reinforcements ahead of their title defence.