Bruno Guimaraes has officially requested to leave Newcastle United, prompting Arsenal to intensify their pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder. Guimaraes, who joined from Lyon in 2022, has caught the attention of the Premier League champions this summer.

The Gunners had initially considered signing either Guimaraes or his former teammate Sandro Tonali, who recently transferred to Tottenham for an initial £92.5 million. As Arsenal aims to strengthen their midfield, discussions regarding Guimaraes have revealed that a fee of around £60 million was suggested by the player's representatives.

While Newcastle has yet to receive direct contact from Arsenal, it is reported that Mikel Arteta's squad is preparing to submit a new offer for Guimaraes. The midfielder recently faced disappointment, missing a penalty in Brazil's exit from the World Cup in the last 16 against Norway.

Arsenal is currently focused on acquiring one leading central midfielder, with alternatives like Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi also under consideration. However, Newcastle is reluctant to part with Guimaraes, especially after the departures of Tonali and Anthony Gordon in this transfer window.

This summer has seen significant midfield transfers, including Manchester City's record £116 million deal for Elliot Anderson and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes moving to Tottenham for £85 million. As Guimaraes approaches his 29th birthday in November, Arsenal's willingness to pay may be influenced by his age.

The acquisition of a new central midfielder could lead to the sale of a current player, with Christian Norgaard, 32, likely to attract offers. Additionally, this move might impact Martin Zubimendi's role as a starter in Arteta's lineup for the upcoming season.