Arsenal open 'direct talks' with Premier League rival over deal to sign £75m-rated midfielder

Arsenal are pushing to sign one of their main summer targets, according to a new report, after they opened 'direct talks' with a fellow Premier League club over a deal that could cost them £75million.

The Gunners have spent almost £1bn on transfers since Mikel Arteta's appointment in December 2019, and it looks they won't be slowing down any time soon.

Last month, they completed the £34.5million signing of Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie, who spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Arsenal from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

A week later, goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined the North London club on a free transfer after his Leeds contract expired.

More recently, Arsenal are said to have agreed a £33.8million deal with Belgian side Club Brugge for highly-rated Greek winger Christos Tzolis, who will likely be a direct replacement for Leandro Trossard.

Arteta is also keen to bolster his midfield as they prepare to defend their Premier League crown, and it appears they are making a serious move to sign Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes.

Previously, Arsenal have been unwilling to discuss a fee higher than £60 million. Newcastle, meanwhile, are not interested in any bonus payments or add-ons and want the fee to be paid in full.

But on Tuesday, The Telegraph claimed Arsenal have now begun 'direct talks' with Newcastle to sign Guimaraes, who has reportedly told the Magpies that he wants to join the Premier League champions.

The report goes on to claim that Newcastle are 'likely to have a decision to make' if Arsenal formally offer around £75million for the Brazil international.

READ MORE: Arsenal pulled out of Morgan Rogers transfer over key demand before Chelsea hijack

Last month, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed Arsenal had made an approach for Guimaraes, but his valuation was a sticking point.

"It is true that Arsenal made an approach for Bruno Guimaraes," Romano stated in his YouTube video. "It was a direct approach on the player's side and the club side with Newcastle.

"My understanding is that their intention was for a deal worth around £55million, but Newcastle will not sell him for this fee. They have closed the doors to this approach."

Romano added: "We will see if Arsenal returns, if anything is moving. Bruno Guimaraes is leaving everything in the hands of Newcastle; he's respecting Newcastle."

Arsenal were also chasing a deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa but did not want to pay close to the £117 million fee that Chelsea have bid for the England international.

Instead, they were holding out for Villa, who wanted a fee in excess of nine figures, to accept a sum in the region of £90-100million.