Arsenal Explores Transfers for Newcastle's Guimaraes and Tonali

Arsenal have opened exploratory talks over ambitious moves for Newcastle United pair Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali as they step up plans to reshape Mikel Arteta’s midfield this summer.

The London club are in the market for one leading central midfielder and have begun sounding out several targets. Guimaraes and Tonali sit near the top of that list, with discussions already held with both players’ representatives to gauge the conditions and cost of any potential deal.

For now, the interest remains at camp-to-club level. Newcastle have not received a formal approach from Arsenal, and the message from Tyneside is clear: they do not want to lose either of their midfield pillars.

Newcastle dig in on Guimaraes and Tonali

Newcastle have already shown their stance on Tonali. The club rejected an offer of around £80m from Tottenham Hotspur and believe they are in a strong position to demand a fee closer to £100m, especially with Manchester City monitoring the situation.

Tonali’s contract only strengthens their hand. The Italy international is effectively tied to the club until 2030 after signing a new deal during his 10‑month betting ban, a gesture that underlined Newcastle’s faith in him and gave them long-term security over his future.

Guimaraes, captain and talisman, is an even more emotional case for Newcastle. With two years left on his current deal, he remains central to their project and has been fully focused on Brazil’s World Cup campaign, where they face Japan in the last 32. Newcastle have no desire to cash in on the 28-year-old, whose influence extends far beyond his passing range and pressing numbers.

Market inflation and Arsenal’s age equation

The wider market is pushing prices into uncomfortable territory. Manchester City have agreed a club-record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England midfielder Elliot Anderson, while West Ham are seeking up to £80m for 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes.

Against that backdrop, Newcastle’s valuation of Tonali looks less outlandish, and any move for Guimaraes would also demand a premium. Arsenal, though, are weighing those figures against age profiles. Guimaraes turns 29 in November, Tonali turned 26 in May. Those details matter to a club that has tried to build its core around players in their early-to-mid 20s.

That is where alternative options come into sharper focus.

Alex Scott, Ayyoub Bouaddi and a younger route

Arsenal have registered firm interest in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, 22, who is also on the radar of Manchester United and Chelsea. Scott fits the club’s preferred age bracket and offers a different type of investment: high ceiling, resale value, and time to grow into a leading role.

Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, a Morocco international, has also been assessed internally, as has West Ham’s Fernandes, who remains a key target for Tottenham. Arsenal are not short of names; the challenge is deciding which profile best complements Arteta’s current core.

Inside the decision-making: Berta’s multi-track strategy

Sporting director Andrea Berta is known for running several deals in parallel before committing to one. This summer is no different. Arsenal are working multiple angles, keeping conversations alive with various camps while they judge price, age, availability and tactical fit.

The plan is not to overhaul the entire midfield, but to add one high-level central midfielder who can either start immediately or push the current starters to a higher level. That single arrival, though, will have consequences.

Knock-on effects for Norgaard and Zubimendi

Any new signing in central midfield will trigger at least one departure. Arsenal are prepared to listen to offers for Denmark international Christian Norgaard, now 32, whose place in the squad would come under direct threat.

Questions will also follow for Martin Zubimendi. The Spaniard has grown into a regular starter under Arteta, but the arrival of a marquee midfielder—whether a seasoned leader like Guimaraes, a dynamic presence like Tonali, or a rising talent such as Scott—would inevitably reshape the pecking order.

Arsenal have put their pieces on the board. Newcastle are holding firm. The numbers are climbing, the clock is ticking, and one decision in midfield could define the direction of Arteta’s next title push.