Arsenal have submitted an improved offer worth £75m for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with the bid consisting of £70m guaranteed and £5m in bonuses. The offer is below Newcastle's valuation of their captain, but reports indicate a high likelihood of agreement and negotiations are expected to progress this week. Guimaraes has informed Newcastle he wants to leave if an agreement is reached, but will not force a move if the clubs fail to agree a fee.
Other targets and activity
The Gunners are also monitoring Vinicius Junior, though no bid has been submitted yet as his contract talks with Real Madrid unfold. Julian Alvarez and Lille striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo—who has told Lille he wants to leave—remain on the list of rumoured targets. So far, Arsenal have completed three signings: Piero Hincapie (£34.5m permanent), Illan Meslier (free agent), and Christos Tzolis (£34m from Club Brugge).
Centre-back deal close
ESPN also reports that Arsenal are close to completing the signing of a centre-back, with talks more advanced than the Guimaraes deal. The identity of the defender has not been disclosed. The need for a centre-back is heightened by William Saliba's back injury, which is set to rule him out for at least the first few months of the season. Among linked defenders, John Stones is set to join Inter Milan, while Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa remains a target but the clubs are far apart in valuation.
