Arsenal's midfield chase: Guimaraes and Tonali in transfer tug‑of‑war

Arsenal have confirmed they are pursuing two Newcastle United midfielders – Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes and Italian Sandro Tonali – after a £60 million (≈ €69.5 million) offer for Guimaraes was turned down, and the club is also eyeing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille and Alex Scott of Bournemouth as alternatives. Arsenal had already signalled interest in Bruno Guimaraes, but Newcastle United are reported to be unwilling to part with the Brazilian midfielder. The Gunners' pursuit therefore hinges on convincing Newcastle to accept a higher offer. The club is also set to clash with Tottenham Hotspur for the services of Sandro Tonali. Although Tonali was reportedly close to a move to Tottenham, Newcastle rejected that bid. According to the BBC, Arsenal have conducted personal discussions with the Italian midfielder. These talks indicate Arsenal's intent to secure Tonali alongside Guimaraes.

Newcastle eyes Italian midfield after Tonali’s €116m move

The BBC further clarified that Arsenal are targeting one of the two Newcastle midfielders, not both. This suggests the Gunners are weighing options rather than planning a double signing. Newcastle have deemed Arsenal's £60 million bid for Guimaraes insufficient, equating to roughly €69.5 million. The Magpies' stance leaves the transfer window open for further negotiation. Should the deal for either Newcastle midfielder fall through, Arsenal plan to shift focus to Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille and Alex Scott of Bournemouth. Both players represent alternative midfield targets for the Premier League champions.

Bruno Guimaraes' impact: the pulse that steadied Newcastle United

Manchester City continue to monitor the Tonali saga closely, according to the BBC. Their interest underscores the broader market attention on the Italian midfielder. Arsenal's next move will depend on Newcastle's response and the availability of the alternative targets.