The Brazilian is a key target for the Gunners this summer as he looks set to leave Newcastle
Bruno Guimaraes has been advised to snub a potential move to Manchester United this summer and pick Arsenal instead – because he would get more playing time with the Premier League champions.
Arsenal have been admirers of the 28-year-old ever since his move to Newcastle from Lyon back in January of 2022. Mikel Arteta is keen to add another midfielder to his ranks to help lighten the load on Declan Rice, with doubts over Martin Zubimendi’s long-term future.
The Newcastle United midfielder is keen to leave St. James’ Park this summer after spending four years on Tyneside. Guimaraes, 28, wants to play in the Champions League and that won’t happen with Newcastle in 2026/27 as they finished in a disappointing 12th place in the Premier League.
Guimaraes enjoyed a fine World Cup, registering four assists for the Selecao, although he missed a penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Norway as they were knocked out of the last-16 knockout round. Once his extended break is over, his focus will be sorting out his future and preparing for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
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Man United have also been credited with an interest in Guimaraes, with Newcastle not prepared to sell for a fee under £90million. United have already signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively to bolster their midfield.
Former Arsenal and United defender Mikael Silvestre surprisingly thinks Guimaraes would struggle to get in Michael Carrick’s starting XI as a result, as the Frenchman explained why Arteta’s team would resemble a better fit.
“I don’t think Manchester United need another top midfield player like Guimaraes after signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to play with Kobbie Mainoo,” Silvestre said, speaking to Grosvenor Sport.
“Guimaraes will always want to start. When you are starting for the Brazil national team, you need to be starting for your club. So I think Arsenal would be a better fit for him.”
Guimaraes enjoyed his best attacking returns in a league campaign since joining Newcastle, scoring nine goals and delivering seven assists in 29 appearances. Silvestre believes the central midfielder has attributes that his potential team-mates Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly are missing.
“It was a strange one to see Martin Zubimendi benched last season,” he added. “I thought he had some good performances but there were some blips and then Myles Lewis-Skelly showed he had that extra layer to his game, breaking the lines with his running.
“Zubimendi can’t do that. He’s a different kind of player, [but] Guimaraes can do both. He’s a bit more aggressive, or at least more aggressive than Zubimendi, and to defend your title, you’re going to need characters like him.
“If you want to reach the final of the Champions League again and defend your title, you need bodies, and it would make a lot of sense for Arsenal to bring in Guimaraes.”
Arsenal have already made two summer signings, making Piero Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen a permanent switch and capturing Illan Meslier on a free transfer following his release from Leeds United.
Christos Tzolis is poised to become the third after Arsenal struck a £34m agreement with Club Brugge on Thursday. And Guimaraes would certainly add to that excitement if he arrives.
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