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Evening Standard

3 August 2026

Evening Standard

3 August 2026

Arsenal are keen to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes as well as his Brazil team-mate Vinicius Jr.

Bruno Guimaraes is reportedly on his way to join Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Spain, even as Arsenal continue efforts to complete a move for the midfielder.

Reports on Sunday claimed that the Brazil international was expected to have a medical with Arsenal on Monday as he moved closer to a transfer believed to be worth about £80million.

But Sky Sports said on Monday morning that Guimaraes was instead travelling to link up with the Newcastle squad at their training base in La Manga.

According to The Chronicle, Guimaraes is understood to have told Newcastle in July that he wanted to join Arsenal. It is believed he departed his native Brazil for Spain on a commercial flight on Sunday night, in line with an agreement made with the club after his post-World Cup holiday.

The Newcastle skipper is now expected to discuss his future with new head coach Matthias Jaissle, who is in Spain with the squad even though official confirmation of his appointment as Eddie Howe’s successor has been delayed because of a paperwork issue.

The Daily Telegraph has since reported that Arsenal have now begun direct club-to-club talks with Newcastle over Guimaraes. Newcastle have turned down their opening offer, but negotiations are continuing quickly, with the player expected to restate his wish to make the move when he links up with Newcastle on Monday.

Newcastle were said to have already been preparing for the possibility of life without Guimaraes, with several possible replacements being linked for their influential captain, including Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic.

Guimaraes returning to Newcastle training on Monday mirrors the situation of Brazil team-mate and fellow Arsenal target Vinicius Jr.

Arsenal are prepared to make an ambitious move for Vinicius Jr as his contract deadlock with Real Madrid continues, with fewer than 12 months now remaining on his current deal.

However, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said after Saturday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Fiorentina in Austria that Vinicius Jr would return to training on Monday as scheduled following his own post-World Cup break. Brahim Diaz and new signing Bernardo Silva were also due back, and Vinicius Jr was photographed arriving at the club’s complex in Valdebebas.

Arsenal have made only two additions so far this summer as they gear up for their first Premier League title defence in more than 20 years. They have spent £34m on Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and also signed free-agent goalkeeper Illan Meslier after his departure from Leeds.