After weeks of speculation and various rumours, Arsenal have finally announced the £75m signing of midfielder Bruno Guimarães from fellow Premier League side, Newcastle United.
The Brazilian has penned a four-year deal with the option of a further year at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta landing one of his key transfer targets in the process.
Upon the confirmation of his deal on Saturday morning, the 28-year-old stated he felt “amazing” after the move and that he’s “excited” to start his career in North London.
Despite the move taking the Gunners’ spending to over £100m this summer, it appears as though the hierarchy are still targeting added reinforcements before the window closes.
What business Arsenal need to do after signing Guimaraes
Despite winning the Premier League last season, Arteta is extremely keen to further improve his Arsenal squad to increase their chances of retaining their title.
A new centre-back will undoubtedly be a priority for the Spaniard, as William Saliba is expected to miss the opening stages of the campaign with an ongoing back issue.
Aston Villa star Ezri Konsa has been mentioned as a possible transfer target, but the Gunners are said to be unwilling to match the defender’s asking price of £60m.
The attacking department could also see numerous arrivals link up with the squad before the summer window closes – that’s despite already completing a move for Christos Tzolis.
|
Most G+As in the Belgian Pro League (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Christos Tzolis |
40 |
|
Nicolo Tresoldi |
24 |
|
Thorgan Hazard |
20 |
|
Keisuke Goto |
18 |
|
Vincent Janssen |
17 |
|
Wilfried Kanga |
16 |
|
Jeppe Erenbjerg |
16 |
|
Carlos Forbs |
16 |
The Greek international arrived from Club Brugge for a reported £34m, but Arteta still wants another left-winger added to his ranks before the 2026/27 season starts.
Vinícius Júnior has been the club’s prime target in recent weeks, but a deal for the Real Madrid star now looks to be off the table after the latest development.
The Brazilian is said to have agreed a new six-year deal with the Spanish giants, subsequently putting an end to Arteta’s hopes of landing the world-class attacker.
How Arsenal can land a player just like Henry this summer
Despite the failed efforts to convince Vinicius to move to the Premier League, Arsenal still have numerous transfer targets they are trying to land in the transfer market.
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has once again been touted with a move to the Emirates, but it’s unclear if Arteta’s men are willing to pay £77m for his signature.
He’s not the only player who has been credited with a move to North London, with PSG winger Bradley Barcola once again emerging on the club’s transfer shortlist.
It’s been reported by TEAMtalk that Arsenal have entered talks with the French giants over the possibility of a deal for the 23-year-old left-sided attacker.
Their report states that Liverpool are ahead in the race to sign the Frenchman, but the Gunners are to continue their efforts to secure his signature in the weeks ahead.
Any deal would be an expensive one for Arteta’s men, as Luis Enrique’s side are demanding at least £128m to sanction a sale before the end of the window.
Barcola has been a long-standing target for the Gunners, and for good reason, with the youngster a player who has constantly impressed throughout recent seasons.
His stats from his recent campaign in Ligue 1 highlight his key qualities in forward areas and showcase why he’d be the perfect attacker to complete the club’s attacking department.
The PSG attacker ended the recent campaign with 21 combined goals and assists across all competitions, with only Viktor Gyokeres managing more at the Emirates.
Such numbers demonstrate his phenomenal ability to provide carnage within attacking areas – whilst also handing Arteta the world-class forward option he’s hunting for.
Barcola also managed to catch the eye with his dribbling ability – subsequently completing an impressive tally of 1.5 successful attempts per 90, which placed him above 85% of other attackers in Europe.
Such figures back up former French star Oliver Kapo’s claim that he’s a “bit like Thierry Henry”, with his compatriot a player who constantly provided the goods within forward areas.
£128m would be a club-record fee for Arsenal, but it could be one which is worth every penny if Barcola is able to get anywhere near the levels of Henry in North London.
His compatriot, who is still the club’s all-time leading scorer, has set the bar high for attackers who make the move to the Emirates – with the PSG man undoubtedly having pressure on him to succeed.
However, it’s certainly a risk worth taking for the Gunners this summer, with the attacker able to feature and star alongside Guimaraes upon any move.
