Midfield transfer speculation heats up as Arsenal pursues Bruno Guimarães

By Hannah Whitfield · Sports Reporter · 26.06.2026

By Hannah Whitfield — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Midfield transfer speculation

Arsenal has reportedly submitted a verbal offer to Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimarães. This proposal was reportedly rejected by the St James’ Park club, which is reportedly reluctant to sell the Brazilian player this summer. Guimarães is said to be preparing for a World Cup tie.

Reports suggest that Guimarães’ agent, Kia Joorabchian, is significantly involved in the current transfer discussions. Guimarães has established himself as a key player for Eddie Howe’s team and is considered one of the top midfielders in the league. He has made over 150 Premier League appearances, scoring 30 goals from central midfield. He is also an important player for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil, having started all three group games.

Conflicting reports and club stance

On Wednesday evening, a journalist reported that Arsenal had held discussions with Bruno Guimarães’ representatives, and Newcastle was preparing for a potential bid. However, a Brazilian outlet subsequently claimed that Arsenal’s offer for the midfielder had been rejected. Amid these reports, sources close to Newcastle United indicated that their captain is not for sale, a sentiment echoed by other transfer reporters.

Speculation also surrounds Italy international Sandro Tonali, who is reportedly seeking a move, with another club reportedly having an £80 million bid rejected for him. This situation makes it seem unlikely that Newcastle would approve the sale of two key midfielders in the same transfer window. The reported fee for Guimarães is also considered to be below figures seen for other players this summer.

Guimarães has been a long-term target for Arsenal, with the club’s sporting director reportedly interested in him during his time at Lyon. However, it is also suggested that these links could be a tactic to influence other negotiations. Last summer, Arsenal’s sporting director reportedly kept multiple options open, engaging with various targets, their representatives, and clubs to advance discussions.

Arsenal’s midfield reinforcements

Arsenal is actively seeking to strengthen its midfield options. This comes after key players Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi reportedly showed signs of fatigue towards the end of last season due to heavy workload. The club has been linked with several other midfielders this summer, including Mateus Fernandes, Konstantinos Karetsas, and Felix Nmecha.

In previous matches against Arsenal, Guimarães has been involved in controversial incidents, including an instance where he reportedly elbowed Jorginho in a match in 2023. Newcastle will not be able to offer Guimarães European football next season, as the club finished in 12th place in the Premier League last season. Some reports indicate that the Brazilian player might favour a move to Arsenal this summer and could potentially try to facilitate a transfer.

Separating genuine transfer interest from negotiation strategies can be challenging at this stage of the transfer window. More reliable transfer reporters have yet to provide updates on this particular situation, and it remains to be seen whether these reports will lead to a concrete transfer or fade away in the coming days.

Newcastle has already sold winger Anthony Gordon to Barcelona this summer in a deal reportedly worth €80 million, which included a sell-on clause.

Source: arseblog.news

Hannah Whitfield

Sports Reporter

As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”