Arsenal have reportedly made significant progress in their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after reaching an agreement with the Brazil international over personal terms.
The Gunners are understood to be keen on bringing the 28-year-old to the Emirates this summer, with Guimaraes said to be open to the move following his return from the FIFA World Cup.
According to Standard Sport, Arsenal and the midfielder have agreed the framework of a five-year contract, leaving the north London club to focus their attention on negotiating a deal with Newcastle.
Despite the reported breakthrough, completing the transfer is expected to be far from straightforward. Newcastle remain determined to keep hold of their captain and have consistently maintained that Guimaraes is not for sale.
The Brazilian has become one of the club’s most influential players since arriving at St James’ Park, making him a key part of Newcastle’s long-term plans.
However, Arsenal believe agreeing personal terms with the player strengthens their position and gives them encouragement that a deal could still be possible if discussions with Newcastle develop.T
he Magpies are reluctant to lose a midfielder regarded as one of the Premier League’s finest, and replacing a player of Guimaraes’ quality would be a significant challenge.
Should Guimaraes indicate a desire to leave, Newcastle could eventually face a difficult decision as the transfer window progresses. With time still remaining before the deadline, there is scope for negotiations between the two clubs.
Arsenal are expected to continue exploring the possibility of a deal as Mikel Arteta looks to further strengthen his midfield options ahead of the new season. Guimaraes’ reported willingness to join the Gunners could prove to be an important factor if talks between the clubs gather momentum in the coming weeks.