Bruno Guimaraes: why Arsenal are closing in on Newcastle's captain

Arsenal are growing increasingly confident about signing Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, with multiple sources suggesting an agreement could be reached in the coming days. The Brazilian midfielder has made clear he wants the move to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports.

An earlier bid of £70 million submitted this month will need to be improved to convince Newcastle to sanction the sale. Arsenal are reportedly aiming to finalise a deal that could reach £80 million in the coming days.

Newcastle continue to insist that formal club-to-club talks have not yet taken place, even as optimism grows on Arsenal's side. While the club maintains no fresh proposal has been officially lodged, discussions are said to be ongoing and could accelerate quickly.

Guimaraes is due back at Newcastle for pre-season training around 31 July, with both sides aiming to finalise terms within days.

The saga unfolds during a particularly turbulent period for Newcastle. Head coach Eddie Howe left the club just hours after a 4-1 pre-season defeat to Championship side Bristol City — though the decision is understood to have been in the pipeline for two weeks and unrelated to that specific result.

Howe's departure followed a disappointing season in which Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League, alongside an underwhelming transfer window. The club has needed to sell players to generate income under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), a constraint that has significantly shaped its transfer strategy.

Guimaraes would join a growing list of high-profile departures from Newcastle's squad this year. The club has already let go of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, and sold striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125 million last September.

On the pitch, Guimaraes offers Arsenal a midfield profile that can contribute to both possession play and defensive stability — known for his passing accuracy and his ability to retain the ball under pressure. During his time at Newcastle, he became one of the key figures setting the tempo of the team's transitions between attack and defence.

His departure will sting for Newcastle supporters, but it reflects the club's current financial reality, where retaining star players has become increasingly difficult amid PSR constraints and shifting spending priorities from ownership.

Should the move be finalised, Guimaraes would add an experienced international to Arsenal's midfield rotation, with the club aiming to enter the new season with strengthened squad depth.