Arsenal are understood to be cautiously optimistic about agreeing a transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with negotiations ongoing despite the Magpies' initial reluctance to sell.
The Gunners remain in talks with Newcastle over a deal reportedly worth £75-80m, with Guimaraes himself having formally communicated to his club that he wants to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's focus has been on Guimaraes in recent times, although there is also interest in Bournemouth's Alex Scott, who is valued at a similar price.
The Brazilian international's playing style, which focuses on line-breaking passes and creative play, would provide the team with a bit more quality on the ball and help drive them forward.
Guimaraes has won the Carabao Cup during his time at Newcastle, but may be disappointed with the project's overall progress. At Arsenal, he could be more confident of winning major trophies, having seen the team win the Premier League title and narrowly miss out on the Champions League final.
A signing like Guimaraes would make Arsenal even better-placed to win more silverware, and at 28 years old, he may see this as his last big opportunity to secure a major trophy.
With a strong midfield pairing in place, including Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Arteta's side could benefit from the added depth and quality that Guimaraes would bring, particularly given the current state of Newcastle's team, which is struggling following a disappointing season.
