Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Newcastle United to sign Bruno Guimarães in a deal worth £77million (€90m).
According to Hugo Guillemet, the two clubs have now found common ground over the transfer of the Brazilian midfielder, with only some details surrounding bonuses and commissions still to be finalised.
Crucially, Guimarães is also said to have given the green light to the move. The 28-year-old has reportedly agreed terms with Arsenal on a five-year contract running until 2031, putting the Gunners within touching distance of one of the biggest deals of the summer.
The development represents a significant step forward from our report yesterday that Arsenal were closing in on a move for Guimarães, with talks having progressed following the shock departure of Eddie Howe from Newcastle.
Howe’s exit only increased speculation around the future of some of Newcastle’s leading players, with Guimarães at the centre of Arsenal’s midfield plans.
If the latest information proves accurate, the structure of the transfer rather than the principle of the deal now appears to be the remaining hurdle. A £77m package would represent a huge investment from Arsenal, but one that would add a proven Premier League midfielder at the peak of his career to Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Guimarães would give Arsenal another elite option alongside Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Zubimendi, creating a midfield group with the technical quality, physicality and tactical flexibility to compete on multiple fronts. It is expected Cristian Norgaard will leave as a result of this move.
The Brazilian’s ability to play both deeper and further forward would be particularly attractive. Arsenal have been searching for another leading central midfielder this summer and Guimarães has consistently been linked as one of their preferred options.
There is still work to do. Bonuses, commissions and the final details of a transfer can prove significant, and until contracts are signed there is always scope for a deal to change.
But an agreement in principle between the clubs, combined with Guimarães reportedly saying yes to a five-year Arsenal contract, would leave this transfer looking closer than ever.
After weeks of speculation, Arsenal may now be on the verge of landing another major piece of their summer rebuild.
Bruno would follow the arrivals of Cristos Tzolis and Islan Meslier. More are expected, with a marquee forward still set to arrive.