Arsenal close to sign Brazil midfielder, medical by January, as both club set for £80m verbal agreement – Report
They have plans to pinch Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes at the end of this season for about £80m as indicated by the news source, 90 Min.
This 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder has made a name for himself among Premier League players and the source says that, as expected, several top clubs are showing interest in him before the summer transfer window.
90min indicates that Arsenal are also interested in bringing Guimaraes at the end of the season as Mikel Arteta attempts to beef up his title-chasing squad.
The South American is bound to a £100 million release clause by a clause in his contract before mid-June. However, the report declares that Arsenal have been made known to the fact that an oral agreement exists between Newcastle and the player to listen to offers as low as £80 million.
The Magpies are under pressure to sell one of their key players in this summer so that they will be able to balance their financial situation and keep them within the parameters of the financial regulations. It seems that Guimaraes is the one likely to be sold.
However, the report shows that Arsenal are not the only club interested as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be keen on the Brazilian international.
🚨 Despite having a £100m release clause, 90min understands there is also a verbal agreement in place that Bruno Guimarães will be allowed to talk to Champions League clubs & that offers BELOW his release clause will be engaged with providing they exceed £80m. [@JacobsBen] #afc pic.twitter.com/8qDMfDSNtH
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) April 22, 2024
Guimaraes might fancy Arsenal switch
There is a need for a quality central midfielder to be brought in to Arsenal to be able to control the tempo of the game and also add more technical ability to the middle of the park. The South American will be more than suited to the club’s style of play, and he would be able to blend well with Declan Rice.
Guimaraes has netted four goals and assisted in eight this season, and adding him would bring much-needed creativity from central areas whenever he makes the move to Emirates Stadium.
To Arsenal, it would also be a welcome step up in the player’s career and be looked at as competing for big trophies. He has proven his worth by performing consistently in the Premier League and is ready for any team in the country.
Guimaraes currently is at his apex and would walk into North London in just one trot, but we now have to see if Arsenal can be pried open for at least £80m to tie up a deal.
Arteta needs to deliver a top-class striker to the books and probably a new left back this summer so Arsenal should be wary of overspending their budget on just one player.
