Arsenal closing in on Bruno Guimaraes transfer with Newcastle expected to accept fee of £70million-plus

ARSENAL are closing in on a deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes. The Gunners have made the midfielder a top target this summer and are expected to pay north of £70million for him. Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes Credit: Getty The Gunners are expected to pay north of £70million for the Brazilian Credit: Getty Guimaraes is keen to join the Premier League champions and personal terms will not be an issue. The Brazilian’s departure would be the latest blow in a nightmare summer for Newcastle. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! The Magpies have already lost key men Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. Manager Eddie Howe has joined them in heading out the exit door after news of his bombshell departure came out on Thursday morning. Arsenal want to sign Guimaraes so that they can provide proper competition in midfield for Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. Both players got through a large number of minutes last season and suffered from fatigue towards the end of the campaign. Guimaraes is viewed as a player of proven quality that could slot straight into the Arsenal team and the club are long-term admirers of him. The Gunners have followed the Brazilian for six years and now look set to finally bring him to the Emirates. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Mikel Arteta has stressed the need for new signings as the Gunners look to retain their Premier League crown. Speaking earlier this week, Arteta said: “From ownership, to the board, the sporting director and myself, we want to take this club to a different level. “That is going to require a better squad, better individuals. “We have identified where we have opportunities to grow, improve and evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that. We are on it.” Comment now