ARSENAL are considering a summer move for Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
However, a striker remains Mikel Arteta’s top priority as the North London club prepare to back their manager with another hefty transfer kitty.
The Gunners will be joined by the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in their pursuit of Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes, who has a reported £100m release clause.
Yet there is a belief that the Toon will be open to selling their star man for slightly less should the deal be an attractive one with numerous add-on bonuses.
Guimaraes, 26, has shone on Tyneside since his £40m arrival from Lyon in January 2022 – and signed a contract extension until 2028 back in October that sees him earn more than £150k-a-week.
However, Guimaraes is desperate to play Champions League football next season and is aware of interest from several top sides currently in Europe’s elite competition.
SunSport also understands that Guimaraes likes the idea of joining a club with a Brazilian connection, like he has at Newcastle with pal Joelinton.
Arsenal’s ranks include Samba boys Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel.
Manchester City have goalkeeper Ederson while PSG have defenders Marquinhos and Lucas Beraldo.
There is no indication that Guimaraes is unhappy in the North East, however, having settled down and in the process of buying a new family home in the Northumberland area.
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Arteta is keen to bolster his midfield with the futures of Thomas Partey, 30, and Jorginho, 32, unclear.
Partey could potentially be sold to raise funds while Jorginho is still in talks over an extension with his deal running out at the end of the term.
It would not be the first time Arsenal go head-to-head with City for a midfielder, having won the £105m battle for Declan Rice last summer.
But purchasing a top forward remains top of Arsenal’s list, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak a target, as well as Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arteta said on Monday: “We have to see how we finish first and what we are capable of doing, and then sit down and review everything we have done and see how we are going to make another step or two steps forward.
“That is what this team, this club and our people are demanding — to keep moving forward, in a ruthless way. Because we are not satisfied with where we are.”
Arsenal spent just over £200m last summer on Rice, Kai Havertz from Chelsea, David Raya from Brentford and Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
By Jordan Davies
ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
Dutch wonder is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him.
