Arsenal open £60m transfer talks with Newcastle for wantaway Bruno Guimaraes after Chelsea’s £117m Morgan Rogers hijack

ARSENAL have opened direct talks with Newcastle over a deal to sign Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazil international, 28, has informed the Toon that he is keen to join the Premier League champions before the start of the new season. Bruno Guimaraes has told Newcastle he wants to join Arsenal Credit: Getty Morgan Rogers is heading to Chelsea despite a long pursuit by Arsenal Credit: Getty Before now, all talks had been conducted via intermediaries, with Newcastle making it clear the midfielder was not for sale. Arsenal, through those representatives, had indicated they would be willing to pay £60million for the former Lyon man. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! However, the Magpies are standing firm in a bid to hold out for a bigger fee. It comes after Arsenal lost out to Premier League rivals Chelsea in a deal to sign Morgan Rogers. The Gunners had been in talks with Aston Villa since the end of the season but would not go close to the £117m asking price, which Chelsea quickly met to secure the deal. Arsenal are looking to bolster their midfield and wide areas this summer. A move for Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham, was considered – though again the asking price of £85m was too high for the champions. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott had also been considered, though the Cherries are determined to keep the midfielder despite him turning down a new contract offer this week. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Arsenal have also agreed a £34m deal to sign winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The former Norwich man is in London this week to undergo a medical ahead of completing his move. Comment now