Arsenal are preparing a £70m offer for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazilian keen to join the Premier League champions.
Personal terms are already agreed, BBC Sport reports, and Newcastle are aware of his preference to move to north London this summer.
Talks have accelerated in recent days, though it remains to be seen whether £70m will meet Newcastle’s valuation of their captain.
Sources close to the club insist there has been no formal approach yet and that they have no intention of selling him this window, even with two informal offers already turned down earlier in the summer.
Arsenal set to make £70m bid for Newcastle’s Guimaraes
Guimaraes has become Arsenal’s priority midfield target as Mikel Arteta looks to add depth alongside Declan Rice.
The 28-year-old missed part of last season through a hamstring injury but still finished with 15 goal contributions in the Premier League, and impressed further for Brazil at the World Cup with four assists.
He is under contract at St James’ Park until 2028, with an option for a further year, meaning Newcastle are under no pressure to sell if the fee falls short.
The move follows Arsenal’s decision to walk away from Morgan Rogers rather than match Chelsea’s £117m bid, holding firm on their own £80m valuation of the Aston Villa forward instead.
That same restraint is expected to shape the Guimaraes talks, with Arsenal working to a maximum they are unwilling to exceed even for a player they rate this highly.
Elsewhere, Arsenal continue to weigh up a move for Villa defender Ezri Konsa amid concerns over William Saliba’s fitness.
The Premier League champions retain an interest in Como’s Jacobo Ramon despite a complicating Real Madrid buy-back clause.
They are also exploring attacking options in Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola after missing out on Rogers.
