Arsenal have made significant progress in their pursuit of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports on Tuesday, with discussions over a transfer fee said to be advancing even as Newcastle continue to deny any formal contact has taken place.
Neither club has issued an official statement on the matter. According to Sports Mole, citing talkSPORT, Arsenal have identified the Brazilian international as a priority midfield target and are keen to reach an agreement before the end of July.
Guimaraes is understood to have already agreed personal terms with Mikel Arteta’s side, following an extended break after his participation in the World Cup in North America, the report added.
Verbal offers and a valuation gap
Despite Newcastle’s public denials of formal talks, Arsenal have reportedly submitted three verbal offers in an effort to test the Magpies’ resolve. According to Sports Mole, the two clubs appear to hold differing interpretations of what constitutes an official bid, given the heavy involvement of intermediaries in the discussions so far.
Newcastle are expected to reject any proposal in the region of £70 million, though Arsenal are reportedly prepared to exceed that figure in order to complete a deal. Tribuna.com, also reporting Tuesday and citing talkSPORT, described progress on a verbal agreement worth more than £75 million, while again noting Newcastle’s insistence that no formal contact has occurred.
Guimaraes, 28, remains under contract at Newcastle for two further years, with the club holding an option to extend that by an additional year to 2029, according to VAVEL’s Arsenal transfer roundup published Tuesday.
A player under scrutiny
Sports Mole reported that Guimaraes remains a popular figure in the Newcastle dressing room and intends to conduct himself professionally throughout the process, though both player and club are said to be eager for a swift resolution rather than allowing the situation to run through the rest of the summer window.
What happens next
With Newcastle publicly maintaining their captain is not for sale and Arsenal reportedly working to close the gap on valuation, the situation remains unresolved. Further verbal or formal offers may follow as Arsenal look to finalise a deal before the transfer window’s later stages.
