Arsenal are readying a £70m offer for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with the midfielder pushing for a move to the Premier League champions. The 28-year-old Brazil international has told his representatives he wants his future resolved within the next week, before he reports back for Newcastle’s pre-season training camp.
Talks over a potential transfer have accelerated in recent days, and personal terms are not expected to be an issue. But Newcastle insist they have no intention of selling their captain and claim no direct approach has been received from Arsenal. The Gunners’ offer may fall short of the Magpies’ valuation, sources close to the club said.
“Arsenal prepare £70m bid for Bruno Guimaraes, while Vinicius Jr transfer stalls at Real Madrid.”
Guimaraes is not Arsenal’s only target. The club has also explored a move for Paris St-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, with PSG demanding £145m for the 23-year-old France international. Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested, while Liverpool have separately entered talks with PSG over Barcola, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s interest in Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has stalled. The 26-year-old Brazil forward has a year left on his contract and his priority is to sign a new deal at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid have set a price of 160m euros (£137m) for any summer sale. Arsenal have not opened formal talks, but the club’s hierarchy has approved a move and they would be willing to offer Vinicius the biggest contract in Arsenal history. However, new Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho is understood to oppose the sale.
Elsewhere in the market, Real Madrid have verbally agreed personal terms with RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande. PSG had previously reached a deal with the teenager, but Madrid are now in pole position. Manchester United are offering Marcus Rashford to Roma in an attempt to reduce the fee for Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Manu Kone, though the move is considered unlikely due to Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages.
With the summer window entering its final weeks, Arsenal remain in the hunt for attacking reinforcements. Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is their dream target, but the cost could exceed the British record £125m set when Alexander Isak moved from Newcastle to Liverpool. The Gunners also have Villa defender Ezri Konsa as their first-choice defensive target, while Como’s Jacobo Ramon is on their list, though clauses in the Spaniard’s contract make a deal difficult.