Arsenal in 'advanced talks' to sell midfielder as Bruno Guimarães transfer nears completion
A first-team midfielder is reportedly in advanced talks to leave Arsenal while the Gunners are close to signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães.
Guimarães’ proposed move to Arsenal is a step closer, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that the Gunners and Newcastle United are “nearing a total agreement” over a transfer, with the Brazilian already informing the Magpies he wants to leave.
Arsenal were initially willing to pay up to £60million for the 28-year-old, although they had a verbal offer of less than that figure rejected earlier in the window.
Despite Newcastle maintaining that their club captain was not for sale, it has since emerged that all parties want the situation resolved, with a deal now nearing completion.
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The midfielder is expected to undergo a medical once he receives permission to leave Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in La Manga, Spain.
And while Arsenal supporters will no doubt be excited by the prospect of Guimarães arriving, his presence may spell the end for Ethan Nwaneri.
Nwaneri, who became Arsenal’s youngest appearance-maker when he featured against Brentford at just 15 years and 181 days old back in 2022, spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille but featured just nine times for the French giants.
Arsenal are now reportedly in “advanced talks” to sell the 19-year-old and are expected to insert a buy-back option into any potential deal.
According to journalist Carlo Pellegatti, as relayed by the Metro, Arsenal have held advanced talks with RB Leipzig over a move, while Serie A giants AC Milan are also interested and have made contact over a potential transfer.
The Gunners value the teenager at between £30-35million and want a buy-back clause worth £50million inserted into any deal.
Arteta speaks out on Nwaneri's Marseille loan
This comes after Arteta admitted Nwaneri’s loan spell at Marseille “wasn’t ideal” following the Gunners’ 4-1 friendly win over Girona last weekend.
“I know on the pitch it didn’t [go as well as they wanted] because a lot happened in Marseille, but when you just stand in front of him, you sense the maturity and it looks like a different man,” Arteta said.
“The experience on paper wasn’t ideal, but I think he went through something that is going to help him a lot in his career.”
Arsenal have already welcomed Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Piero Hincapié to the club this summer, with more arrivals and departures expected before the September 1 deadline.
“We are really active trying to improve and evolve the team; that’s clear,” Arteta said in relation to transfers on August 1.
“We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously. We want to get better like anybody else, and you can just see the transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing.
“We won’t sit still and we are very ambitious with what we are doing.”
Arsenal get their title defence underway at home against newly promoted Coventry on August 21.
Topics: Arsenal, Transfer News
Luke Davies