Arsenal’s summer-long pursuit of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes appears to be close to an end.
The Premier League holders want the Brazil midfielder and with Eddie Howe leaving Newcastle last week the way appears clear for the move to be done.
Transfer guru David Ornstein says the deal is now close to ‘a total agreement.’
The Gunners have pursued the former Lyon midfielder for much of the summer.
Intermediaries are thought to have been involved and even though Newcastle have baulked at suggestions Arsenal were willing to offer £70m, it is believed an offer in the region of £80m would be enough to make a breakthrough.
Losing Guimaraes would be another huge blow for Newcastle, although it is thought they are privately resigned to their star man moving on.
Boss Howe left the club last week while two of their most experienced players Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have moved to Barcelona and Tottenham respectively for combined fees in the region of £170m.
They have signed Bazoumana Touré, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba since the end of last season following a disappointing 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would not be drawn directly on Guimaraes over the weekend, but said the club were “very active” and “very ambitious in what we want to do”.
“We need to increase the competition internally,” he added.
“We need to make sure we identify the things that we don’t have in the team.”
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