Arsenal close in on spectacular double deal as Bruno Guimaraes 'agrees personal terms'

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, according to a report, putting the Gunners on the cusp of a stunning double deal.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is ‘very, very close’ to agreeing a contract with the North London side, FootballTransfers exclusively revealed on Wednesday, putting Mikel Arteta’s side in a strong position to sign the England star.

Now the Premier League champions are closing in on a move for Bruno, with transfer insider Nicolo Schira claiming that the Brazil international has agreed a contract that could see him move to the Emirates.

Schira took to X to report that Bruno has agreed a contract until 2031 with Arsenal, with Arteta’s side “pushing” to sign the 28-year-old.

Bruno pushing for Arsenal move

FootballTransfers exclusively reported on 4 July that Bruno is growing frustrated with Newcastle over the club’s trajectory.

Current ETV

Bruno Guimarães

M, DM (C)

Newcastle

Bruno Guimarães

M, DM (C)

Newcastle

€63.1M

ETV Range

€56.8M - €69.4M

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One source described the situation bluntly, insisting that "he's not happy" with how matters currently stand.

The situation has since become more critical for Newcastle. David Ornstein of The Athletic confirmed on Wednesday that Bruno has handed in a transfer request.

Ornstein understands that Arsenal are willing to pay £60 million (€70m) for the 28-year-old, but there has been no formal club-to-club contact yet. Newcastle have insisted that they don't want to sell, but Guimaraes' transfer request may force them to reconsider.

Newcastle stand firm and demand £100m

The message from Newcastle remains defiant in the face of this information.

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards states: “Newcastle are aware of what is happening. This is an attempt to soften them up so they panic after the Isak saga and sell at a price Arsenal like.

“Arsenal have not yet made a bid, all this talk of verbal offers through intermediaries is just agent nonsense. There has been no offer let alone a second one.

“For a transfer to accelerate or proceed Arsenal would need to talk to Newcastle directly. Newcastle have no offer to consider at the moment. They don’t even know if one will come as it’s all been fuelled by agents at the moment. There is irritation but also an understanding of how the market works.

“The asking price will be around the same as the Tonali fee. Not £60m. Not £75m.

“And Bruno will have to agitate to leave. He will have to demand a transfer.”

It appears that the Brazilian has now asked to leave Newcastle, opening the door to a £100m (€115m) move – the same sum that took Tonali to Tottenham.

Arsenal closing in on Rogers and Bruno

Arsenal are in pole position to sign both Bruno Guimaraes and Rogers, who have been earmarked as their two leading targets for the summer transfer window.

Arteta’s side are in a dream spot, but they face a difficult challenge in agreeing transfer fees for both players.

The Gunners are not about to bow to the demands of their Premier League rivals. Villa have demanded a British record asking price of £130m (€150m) for Rogers while Newcastle are requesting £100m for Bruno.

FootballTransfers understands that Arsenal will offer an initial £72.5m (€85m) for the Villa player, while reports claimed they made an offer of £44.5m (€52m) for the Brazilian that was rejected. The Chronicle reports that the Magpies are ‘braced’ for another approach from Arsenal, despite telling the North London side that their skipper was not for sale, with the Gunners said to believe that an offer of £65m (€75.5m) could be enough to seal a deal.

The gulf in valuations is enormous yet with Arsenal boasting the buy-in of both Rogers and Bruno, the Premier League champions are in an increasingly strong position to sign both stars and deal a devastating summer blow to their title rivals.