Arsenal’s pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is progressing to a point where a deal is increasingly likely, according to former Premier League scout Keith Wyness. Wyness stated that the situation is “close enough” that an agreement could be reached, despite previous rejections of Arsenal’s advances.
Guimaraes reportedly informed Newcastle of his desire to leave several weeks ago, following the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. The potential loss of key players raises concerns about Newcastle’s competitiveness in the upcoming season. Arsenal have been consistently linked with the Brazilian international, and are believed to have made multiple bids.
Wyness suggests that Guimaraes holds significant leverage in the negotiations, telling Football Insider: “If he decides he wants to go to London and play for Arsenal, which I’m hearing he does, then I think you may see Arsenal make the deal sweet enough that Newcastle will have to accept it.” He estimates a potential fee in the region of £90 million, acknowledging that Arsenal may need to increase their offer and Newcastle may need to lower their demands.
Newcastle are believed to be holding out for a fee of £100 million for Guimaraes. However, reports indicate that the player is not actively pushing for a move but will allow the club to decide his future. Newcastle writer Lee Ryder has noted that Arsenal have seemingly stepped back from pursuing the midfielder, potentially as a tactic to influence the situation. Ryder reports that conversations between the clubs have stalled, with Arsenal not holding fresh talks this week.
Despite the cooling of official approaches, the possibility of Guimaraes joining Arsenal remains. The midfielder’s desire to move to London and play for the Gunners could prove decisive, potentially forcing Newcastle’s hand. Should a deal materialize, it would significantly bolster Arsenal’s midfield options and provide a further boost to their title ambitions.
