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One bid rejected
Inside Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães bid – Will Arteta end 6-year wait to sign Newcastle star?
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Football works in strange ways, and sometimes goes full circle. In 2020, Arsenal were less than a month into the Mikel Arteta era at the Emirates Stadium when the Spaniard began to chase Bruno Guimarães as one of his first signings in charge of the club. Six and a half years later, Arteta is fresh off celebrating bringing the Premier League title to north London for the first time in 22 years and, once again, Guimarães is on his radar in the transfer market.
Market Value
B. Guimarães
Central Midfield
€70.00m
Speculation suggests the champions made a €64 million verbal bid for the Newcastle United star through intermediaries this week, which was immediately knocked back by the Magpies. With a market value of €75 million, who can blame them. However, given his age, they may be tempted to sell if Arsenal submit an official written bid with a higher fee up front. But the feeling is that they are unlikely to offload both their captain and Sandro Tonali in the same summer, with the latter also being chased by Tottenham.
Of course, Newcastle know his value as one of the world's best midfielders, and Guimarães is coming off the best statistical campaign of his career in terms of attacking output: nine goals and six assists in 29 Premier League appearances. It's been made crystal clear that unless they up their bid, Arsenal could miss out on his signature for a third time in six years.
Missed opportunity in 2020
When the pair first crossed paths, the Brazilian was 22 years old and playing for Athletico Paranaense in the Campeanato Brasilerao. The Gunners' interest first came to light when Athletico president Mario Celso Petraglia spoke out publicly about the midfielder's future. “Yes it’s true. Yesterday came the official offer from Benfica to sign Bruno Guimaraes,” Petraglia told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo. “Arsenal are interested, but will only make an offer towards the end of the season.”
Along with sporting director Edu Gaspar, who had deep connections with scouts in Brazil, Arteta was keen to get the deal done. Guimarães was on the cusp of making his Brazil debut and it was only a matter of time before his first foray into Europe at club level. While Benfica were also keen, it was actually Ligue 1 outfit Lyon who managed to steal a march and convince Guimaraes to sign with them for €20 million.
ARSENAL
Every player signed by Mikel Arteta
Newcastle beat them to the punch in 2022
Arsenal disappointingly only brought in Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo and Cedric Soares from Southampton – a clear indicator of their faltering recruitment strategy at the time. Guimarães, as expected, went on to make a huge impression in France as a defensive midfielder and made 71 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit. Arsenal once again floated the idea of signing him to bolster their squad in January 2022, but as they dwelled on the decision, Newcastle United used the financial muscle from their new Saudi owners to finalise a €35 million deal.
Stats
B. Guimarães
Central Midfield
Newcastle United
195
31
32
He is closing in on 200 appearances with the Magpies and in that time has scored 31 goals, assisted 32 and picked 44 yellow cards. That is the makeup of an all-action, box-to-box midfielder and one Arteta has been searching for to partner Declan Rice in the engine room. He thought he'd found his man in Martin Zubimendi, although the Spaniard's form trailed off towards the second half of the campaign and there are questions over whether he will remain in north London for much longer.
Will Guimarães become latest Brazilian to join Arsenal?
Guimarães would represent the 18th Brazilian signed by Arsenal since the very first Samba star was brought to London by Arsene Wenger, capturing Sylvinho from Celta Vigo in 1999. The attraction of playing alongside the trio of 'Gabis' – Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli – cannot be understated given their close bond. Indeed, the Gunners stars may well be doing some inside work to convince him to join them while at the World Cup together.
At 28, Guimarães is well into his prime and that's evident in the way he has led Brazil at the World Cup. covering every blade of grass and launching himself into tackles. He leads by design and the aggression he takes into games. As Arsenal look to defend their first league title since 2004, they will need every shred of grit and determination as they become the team to beat.
It didn't happen in 2020. It didn't happen in 2022. More than six years after he first registered his interest, Arteta is determined to finally get his man. But only a bigger offer will give them hope of making it third-time lucky as Newcastle continue to stand firm.
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