Arsenal Pursues Midfield Duo Guimaraes and Tonali

Arsenal have opened the door to one of the most ambitious midfield reshapes of the summer, holding exploratory talks over deals for Newcastle United pair Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

The London club want one marquee central midfielder, not two, but they are casting the net wide and deep. Guimaraes and Tonali are at the top end of a shortlist that also features Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, as Arsenal weigh cost, age and long‑term value against immediate impact.

Guimaraes and Tonali sounded out

Conversations with Guimaraes’ camp have already taken place to establish what it would take to prise the 28‑year‑old away from St James’ Park. Similar dialogue has been held with Tonali’s representatives, with Arsenal keen to understand the financial and contractual landscape before making any move.

Newcastle, though, have not yet received a formal approach from Arsenal for either player. Inside the club, the message is clear: they do not want to lose Guimaraes, their captain and emotional leader, and they have already rejected a bid of around £80m from Tottenham Hotspur for Tonali.

Guimaraes, who has two years left on his deal, has parked any talk of his future while on World Cup duty with Brazil, who face Japan in the last 32. His importance to Newcastle, on and off the ball, means any negotiation would start from a position of strength for the Tyneside club.

Tonali’s situation is even more fortified. The Italian international is effectively tied to Newcastle until 2030, having signed a new contract during his 10‑month betting ban as a gesture of faith from the club. That commitment gives Newcastle enormous leverage at the table.

A market built for a bidding war

The current market only hardens Newcastle’s stance. Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest for England midfielder Elliot Anderson worth a club‑record £116m. West Ham, meanwhile, are seeking up to £80m for 21‑year‑old Mateus Fernandes.

Against that backdrop, Newcastle believe they can command a fee closer to £100m for Tonali, with City also monitoring the situation. If more than one heavyweight steps into the ring, the numbers could escalate quickly.

Age will be a crucial calculation for Arsenal. Guimaraes turns 29 in November, Tonali is 26, and those profiles sit in a different bracket to the 22‑year‑old Scott. Any nine‑figure outlay on a player approaching 30 will be heavily scrutinised inside the club.

Younger options on the radar

That is where Scott and Bouaddi enter the conversation. Sources indicate Arsenal have shown firm interest in Scott, who is already attracting attention from Manchester United and Chelsea. His blend of technical quality and Premier League experience makes him an appealing, if costly, project signing.

The club have also run the rule over Morocco international Bouaddi and West Ham’s Fernandes, another midfielder high on Tottenham’s list. All three offer a younger, potentially more sustainable investment than Guimaraes or Tonali, even if they lack the same instant star power.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is known for working multiple angles at once, pushing several deals down the line before committing to one. This is classic Berta territory: parallel tracks, shifting priorities, and a late decision when the numbers and opportunities finally align.

Knock-on effects in north London

Whoever walks through the door, someone will have to walk out. Arsenal intend to bring in one leading central midfielder, and that will trigger at least one sale in the same area of the pitch.

Denmark international Christian Norgaard, now 32, is among those the club are prepared to listen to offers for. His experience and reliability still carry weight, but the drive is towards a younger, more dynamic core.

A major arrival would also cast a shadow over Martin Zubimendi’s status as a guaranteed starter next season. The Spaniard has been central to Mikel Arteta’s structure, yet a signing of Guimaraes’ or Tonali’s calibre would inevitably reshape the hierarchy in midfield.

Arsenal have set their sights high. Now the question is whether they are willing to pay the kind of money that forces Newcastle, and the rest of the market, to sit up and move.