Arsenal are preparing a formal £80million (€94m, $107m) bid to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães, after having two earlier offers rejected. The 28-year-old Brazil international has informed Newcastle of his desire to join the Premier League champions, creating a significant challenge for the club ahead of the new season.
The pursuit of Newcastle United’s influential midfielder has accelerated following weeks of speculation. Arsenal are set to make a £70m offer for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with Brazil international Guimaraes a priority target for the Gunners, and the midfielder keen to join the Premier League champions. Newcastle are aware of the 28-year-old’s preference to join Arsenal this summer, and talks over a potential move for Guimaraes are ongoing and are believed to have accelerated in recent days, though it remains to be seen if Arsenal’s £70m offer will meet Newcastle’s valuation. Arsenal are determined to strengthen their squad with high quality players this summer as they look to build on last season’s title.
Guimarães arrived at St James’ Park in January 2022 from Lyon. Since joining, he has made 195 appearances across all competitions, bagging 31 goals and 32 assists. The 28-year-old played a pivotal role in their League Cup triumph in 2024/25, which ended the club’s 70-year wait for a domestic trophy. He was part of the Brazil squad at the World Cup 2026, starting every game before Norway eliminated them in the round of 16.
Bids, Valuations, and Disputed Stances
Negotiations between the two clubs have involved a rapidly escalating scale of offers. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have already seen a £55m opening offer for Guimaraes rejected and a second approach – a £65m transfer package – turned down by Newcastle. The Gunners are now said to be preparing a new official bid, with a fee between £65m and £90m believed to be enough to help accelerate talks, while Mikel Arteta is pushing to sign Guimaraes, though Arsenal are not prepared to pay over the odds.
Newcastle have no interest in selling the Brazil international, who has two years left on his current contract, and their position was weakened when the player informed them that he wants to join Arsenal this summer. While reports have claimed Newcastle have already knocked back two offers from Arsenal for the player, the Magpies insist they are yet to receive any firm approaches from the Premier League champions over the star. However, sources have indicated that the Gunners plan to submit a formal bid worth £80million (€94m, $107m) for the dynamic Brazil international. Despite repeated assurances from Newcastle that their skipper is not for sale, Arsenal remain undeterred and are determined to test the Magpies’ resolve amid a growing belief that a deal can be done. Newcastle continue to say bids are not welcome for the player, but that will not put off Arsenal, while a prohibitive valuation of £90m is unlikely to weaken their push either.
Guimaraes, 28, has informed Newcastle of his desire to leave the club and join Premier League champions Arsenal, and the Magpies captain thus far isn’t agitating for a move or causing chaos behind the scenes, though his desire is clear and has been communicated to the club. Mikel Arteta is leading Arsenal’s charge for Guimaraes, and a verbal offer via intermediaries worth £55m has already been turned down, while agents of Guimaraes have proposed a £65m switch to Newcastle, though Eddie Howe’s side made it clear they want more. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Newcastle value Guimaraes at £90m, though Arsenal are unwilling to go that high. Instead, the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope – who specialises in covering Newcastle – claims the magic number that could seal this deal is £75m. Taking to X, he wrote: ‘Bruno Guimaraes tells Newcastle he wants to join Arsenal – but club will only engage if contacted by PL champions. Sources say second verbal offer has now been discussed but NUFC astonished no call from Arsenal. Sources claim £75m could see progress.’
Squad Upheaval and Midfield Replacements
The pressure on Newcastle’s hierarchy has intensified following a difficult season, with Newcastle ending the 2025-26 season down in 12th place in the Premier League table after failing to qualify for European competition, and Eddie Howe’s side appearing to struggle to keep hold of their best players as Guimaraes is the latest star ready to depart. Guimaraes is understood to have informed Newcastle of his desire to leave the club and move to the Emirates Stadium, having grown frustrated by the club’s direction following the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. While Gordon was sold to Barcelona for a reported £69m before the 2026 World Cup began, Tonali was confirmed as Tottenham Hotspur’s club-record signing earlier this week, joining for £100m. The Magpies’ decision to sell both players comes around 12 months after they generated £125m from the club-record sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool following a drawn-out transfer saga. Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, and they are desperate to keep hold of Guimaraes, but he has his heart set on a move to Arsenal, having reached the stage of his career where he should be competing for major trophies every year.
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In a clear indication Newcastle are opening the doors to Guimaraes’ sale, they’ve just announced the arrival of one midfielder and are closing in on an agreement to sign a second. Via their official website, Newcastle confirmed the capture of 18-year-old Ajax midfielder, Sean Steur, who has arrived to the tune of £23m.
What Lies Ahead for Both Clubs
For Arsenal, the north side were interested in signing Morgan Rogers, who has joined Chelsea for £117m, from Aston Villa – but refused to go higher than their £80m valuation of the player. It is understood Arsenal were given the opportunity to match Chelsea’s offer for Rogers but declined. Similarly, Arsenal have a hardline maximum valuation of Guimaraes and are unwilling to overpay despite their desire to sign the midfielder. Arsenal also have a major interest in Villa defender Ezri Konsa and have enquired about the England international’s availability, with Konsa Arsenal’s first-choice defensive target. The Gunners also have Como’s Jacobo Ramon on a list of defenders they would like to bring in, but it is understood clauses in the Spaniard’s contract make a deal difficult. Having missed out on Rogers, the Gunners remain in the market for attacking reinforcements, with Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez Arsenal’s dream target, but the player’s current desire to join Barcelona and the cost present significant hurdles.
For Newcastle United, the potential exit of Bruno Guimarães hands PIF the biggest threat yet to their dream of transforming the Magpies into one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The 28-year-old midfielder, a cornerstone of Eddie Howe’s side since his 2022 arrival from Lyon, has made clear his wish for regular Champions League football amid growing uncertainty at St James Park. As one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and their club captain—who publicly has pushed the image of bleeding black and white—the exit of Guimaraes would certainly hit Newcastle hard and would serve as a massive gut punch to their fans. With the transfer window ongoing, the club’s leadership faces the delicate task of navigating these high-profile departures while managing their squad’s future.
Sources: bbc.co.uk.
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