Arsenal raises bid to sign Guimarães from Newcastle

Arsenal has intensified its negotiations with Newcastle United in an attempt to sign Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Arsenal has shown strong interest in signing the Newcastle captain, after deciding not to match Chelsea’s offer of 117 million pounds ($157 million) for English striker Morgan Rogers, a record fee for a British player.

Guimaraes, 28, scored nine goals and provided eight assists across all competitions for Newcastle last season.

Newcastle wants to avoid repeating the protracted transfer saga that ended with the departure of Swedish forward Alexander Isak to Liverpool before the close of last summer’s transfer window.

Isak effectively withheld his participation in the team’s pre-season preparations 12 months ago in an attempt to pressure the club into finalizing his move to Anfield.

Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle’s managerial post last week, had previously admitted during the summer transfer window that he was concerned about the possibility of losing Guimaraes.

After returning from leave following Brazil’s exit from the World Cup in the round of 16 to Norway in July, Guimaraes 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 begin their title defense with a match 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 Guimaraes, 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.”