Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke warned the club would not stand still after ending their 22-year Premier League title drought. "When you win something, the sun's still going to come up the next day," he said in May. That message has been heeded: the Gunners have already signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer and winger Christos Tzolis for £34m, but Mikel Arteta is demanding more.
Arsenal are preparing a £70m offer for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with personal terms already agreed and the Brazil international keen on the move. But Newcastle are expected to reject that bid, forcing Arteta to go higher. The Arsenal boss is willing to pay up to £90m to land Guimaraes, according to Spanish reports, though the Magpies have already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer and are reluctant to lose another key player.
“Arsenal prepare £70m Bruno Guimaraes bid and pursue Julian Alvarez as Arteta strengthens title-winning squad.”
Arteta also wants Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who has been the subject of rejected bids from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Atletico are demanding north of £120m for the Argentina forward, but Arsenal are exploring a player-plus-cash deal that would send Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres to the La Liga club. Gyokeres, 28, is one of several players tipped for the exit, alongside Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli. Leandro Trossard already left last week for Turkish side Besiktas in a £15.3m deal.
Defensive reinforcements are also on the agenda, with free agent John Stones, Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa and Newcastle's Tino Livramento all linked. The club's recruitment drive reflects Kroenke's insistence on pushing forward, even after finally winning the league. "You've got to get back to work," he said. For Arsenal, that means a summer of high-stakes negotiations.
