Arsenal is reportedly on the verge of signing midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with the player having already agreed to personal terms, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. The Gunners are pushing to secure their top midfield target, leveraging Guimaraes' apparent desire for a summer move to the Emirates Stadium.
Prominent reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed that Guimaraes has verbally agreed to personal terms with Arsenal, signaling a significant breakthrough. This suggests that contract length and salary won't be obstacles for Arsenal in their pursuit of the player.
However, a major challenge remains as Newcastle United continues to insist their captain is not for sale. The club's management has denied any direct negotiations with Arsenal, publicly maintaining their stance to keep their key player.
Following these positive discussions with Guimaraes' camp, Arsenal is expected to submit a formal offer, aiming to push Newcastle into negotiations. This upcoming bid will be Arsenal's third attempt, after having two previous offers rejected. Their initial bid of around £55 million and a subsequent improved offer of £65 million were both turned down by Newcastle.
Despite these rejections, Arsenal is determined to sign the player. The club is currently preparing a third offer, believed to be in the £65 million to £90 million range, which is expected to encourage formal club-to-club talks. Guimaraes has reportedly informed Newcastle of his strong desire to join Arsenal, boosting the Gunners' confidence that an increased package could seal the deal.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has previously lauded Guimaraes, calling him "one of the best midfielders in the world" and praising his quality and game control. Martinelli's endorsement, stemming from their time together with the Brazilian national team, further suggests Guimaraes would be a strong fit for Mikel Arteta's team.
