Arsenal close to signing Guimarães

Arsenal has intensified its negotiations with Newcastle United in an attempt to sign Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães, according to media reports yesterday. The reports stated that the English Premier League champions recently submitted an offer worth £70 million ($93 million), which was rejected, as the London club prepares to present an improved bid, bringing it closer than ever to securing the Brazilian’s services.

Arsenal has shown strong interest in signing the Newcastle captain, after deciding not to match Chelsea’s £117 million ($157 million) offer for English striker Morgan Rogers, a record fee for a British player. Guimarães (28) scored nine goals and provided eight assists across all competitions for Newcastle last season.

Newcastle wishes to avoid repeating the protracted transfer saga that ended with the departure of Swede Alexander Isak to Liverpool before the close of last summer’s transfer window. Isak had effectively refused to participate in the team’s preparations for the new season a year prior, in an attempt to pressure the club into finalizing his move to Anfield.

Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle’s managerial position last week, had previously admitted during the summer transfer window that he was concerned about the possibility of losing Guimarães. After returning from holiday following Brazil’s exit from the World Cup round of 16 to Norway in July, Guimarães joined Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Spain.

However, indications are mounting that the player may not be part of the “Magpies” squad when the team begins its Premier League campaign with a home match against Liverpool on August 23. Arsenal will start their title defense with a fixture against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on August 21.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not publicly commented on his club’s interest in signing Guimarães, but he confirmed that the club is “very active” in the transfer market and “very ambitious” about what it seeks to achieve. Arteta said: “We need to increase competition within the team, and we must ensure we identify the elements we are missing in our squad.”