Arsenal have already secured a verbal agreement on personal terms with Bruno Guimaraes, according to prominent journalist Ben Jacobs.
The North London club has been working diligently behind the scenes to push through a deal for their primary midfield target this summer.
Guimaraes has made his desire to move to the Emirates Stadium abundantly clear, with the personal terms agreement representing a major breakthrough in Arsenal’s pursuit.
The development signals that contractual lengths and individual salary demands will not pose any obstacle for Mikel Arteta’s side going forward.
Despite this significant progress on the player’s side, Newcastle United continue to insist that their captain is absolutely not for sale this summer.
The Magpies’ hierarchy has denied any direct negotiations with Arsenal thus far, maintaining a firm public stance to protect one of their most important players.
Arsenal have already seen two official bids rejected in recent weeks, with an initial offer of around £55 million quickly dismissed by Newcastle.
A second, much-improved package totalling £65 million was also firmly knocked back by the Tyneside club, who remain determined to keep hold of their captain.
The Gunners are now preparing a third formal offer, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano previously indicating that a figure somewhere between £65 million and £90 million would likely be required to accelerate structured club-to-club negotiations.
With Guimaraes having already formally notified Newcastle of his strong wish to join Arsenal, the club’s leadership believes an improved bid can finally unlock the deal.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has been vocal in his admiration for his fellow Brazilian, giving a glowing assessment of the midfielder’s abilities when speaking publicly.
“He’s one of the best midfielders in the world,” Martinelli told Sky Sports, leaving little doubt about the high regard in which the player is held.
“He has incredible quality, he controls the game, and he’s a great person as well. Anyone would want him in their team.”
The pair share a strong relationship from their time representing the Brazilian national team together, which many believe would help Guimaraes settle quickly into Arteta’s tactical system.
Arsenal’s reigning Premier League champions status gives them significant financial clout, and the club’s hierarchy shows no sign of walking away from their priority target despite the rejections so far.
