Bruno Guimaraes asks to leave Newcastle as Arsenal close in on midfield target

Bruno Guimaraes has told Newcastle he wants to move on, and Arsenal are now pushing hard to bring the Brazilian to north London. The 28-year-old midfielder, who joined from Lyon in 2022, has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time. During preliminary checks on deal terms, a fee in the region of £60 million was floated by the player’s camp. Newcastle have not received a formal offer from the Gunners yet, but Mikel Arteta’s side are preparing a fresh bid. The Magpies are determined to keep their captain, especially after already sanctioning the departures of Sandro Tonali – who joined Tottenham for an initial £92.5 million – and Anthony Gordon this window. Guimaraes, who turns 29 in November, missed a penalty for Brazil during their shock World Cup last-16 exit to Norway on Sunday. That international disappointment has not cooled Arsenal’s interest. Arsenal are in the market for one top central midfielder. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi are also being considered, but Guimaraes remains the primary target. Newcastle, who finished 12th in the Premier League and missed out on European football, have already seen record sales of midfielders across the division this summer – including Elliot Anderson’s £116 million move to Nottingham Forest and Mateus Fernandes joining Tottenham for £85 million. The arrival of a new midfielder at Arsenal would likely trigger departures. Denmark’s Christian Norgaard, 32, is available for transfer, and questions would also arise over Martin Zubimendi’s place in Arteta’s regular starting XI. Losing Guimaraes would be a hammer blow for Newcastle. He is the heartbeat of the side, the captain who was supposed to lead a new era. The club has shifted strategy toward signing younger prospects like Bazoumana Toure, who will need time to develop. Guimaraes would have been the ideal figure to guide that rebuild. But at 28, this may be his last chance to compete for the game’s biggest prizes elsewhere. Newcastle will demand a premium well above the £60 million mark, yet for those at St. James’ Park, he is simply priceless.