Bruno Guimaraes is becoming Arsenal's top transfer target in the summer of 2026. According to many sources, the first offer worth about 60 million pounds from the "Gunners" has been rejected by Newcastle, but the London team has not given up hope of owning the captain of the "Magpies".
Newcastle have parted ways with Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak in the last two transfer windows. Losing Guimaraes will cause coach Eddie Howe's team to lose their most important leader both professionally and mentally.
One of Guimaraes' greatest values is the ability to maintain stable form and fitness. Since joining Newcastle in January 2022, the Brazilian midfielder has played 195 matches in all competitions, more than any other player of the club in the same period. This is a particularly important quality for Arsenal, a team that often has to fight on many fronts each season.
Guimaraes' influence is also clearly shown through Newcastle's achievements. When he is on the field, the team averages 1.8 points per game and wins more than 52% of the matches. Conversely, when Guimaraes is absent, the win rate decreases to 12.5%, while the average score is only 0.7 points per game.
Guimaraes has long been no longer simply a defensive midfielder. Last season, he scored 9 goals and had 5 assists in the Premier League, leading Newcastle in both of these statistics. In the Brazilian national team at the 2026 World Cup, the 28-year-old midfielder continued to impress with 4 assists after 5 matches.
The noteworthy point is that Guimaraes' role is increasingly expanded. The touch map shows that he often appears in the bottom 1/3 of the field, especially on the right flank, instead of just operating in the midfield area as before. This shows that Guimaraes can completely take on the number 8 role in coach Mikel Arteta's 4-3-3 system.
However, the ability to support attack does not reduce Guimaraes' defensive efficiency. On average, every 90 minutes last season, he won 6.1 duels, made 1.6 successful tackles and had 5 ball recoveries. Among Arsenal midfielders last season, only Declan Rice had a slightly higher number of ball recoveries.
If Guimaraes plays alongside Rice, Arsenal will own a duo of energetic midfielders, capable of covering wide space, competing well and providing effective support in both attack and defense. Guimaraes can also share the playing volume with Rice and Martin Zubimendi, two players who both had physical problems at the end of last season.
What makes Newcastle determined to keep Guimaraes is not only in expertise. The Brazilian captain is the leader in the dressing room, the spiritual support of the whole team and is seen by fans as a new symbol of the club. Leadership ability, experience fighting in the Premier League and bravery in big matches are factors that are difficult to replace.
Therefore, if Arsenal convinces Newcastle to release the player, the "Gunners" will not only add a comprehensive midfielder but also own a leader who can raise the midfield level, increase the squad depth and consolidate the ambition to conquer major titles.
