Alan Shearer has warned Arsenal they won’t be able to sign Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes on the cheap.
Following Brazil’s exit from the World Cup, Bruno is understood to have informed his current employers of his desire to join the Premier League champions.
With Declan Rice’s marathon campaign still ongoing, Mikel Arteta is keen to add greater depth to his midfield engine room.
The club’s current record signing was nursed through the run-in last season given his various back and hamstring strains and Thomas Tuchel has been forced handle his midfield dynamo with care during the World Cup.
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Whether Rice is ready for the start of the new season remains to be seen and, in any case, he is likely to be given an extended break regardless of any potential injury.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are still licking their wounds following a disappointing season which saw them fail to qualify for Europe.
That hammer blow has contributed to their hand being forced and resulted in the sales of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham.
Newcastle could eventually earn £100million from the sale of the Italy international and Shearer has warned Arsenal it will take a similar fee to secure the signing of Bruno.
He told Betfair: ‘I think he’ll stay. I think it would be a really bad look for Newcastle if they sold Tonali and Guimaraes.
‘And there’d be a lot of angry fans and rightly so. Because he’s a very, very talented player and I think he’s been great for Newcastle.
‘He understands the area. He understands the football club. So, I would be more than happy if he committed to the club and he doesn’t want to go anywhere.
‘I’d feel confident the club won’t sell him and if Tonali was 100 mil then Bruno would be more than that if he was to go.
‘Maybe this news is his agent trying to get a new deal out of Newcastle.’
According to Brazilian outlet eglobo, the Magpies are demanding £90m for the 28-year-old who currently has two years left on his contract.
Arsenal have indicated they are prepared to go £70m for a player they have coveted ever since he made his breakthrough with his boyhood club Athletico Paranaense.
The Gunners came close to signing Bruno again when he left Lyon for the Premier Leauge but were usurped by Newcastle whose ambitious move saw them beat Arsenal to his services.
Having played such a key role in establishing Newcastle as a genuine force to be reckoned with during his four-year spell at St James’ Park, Bruno will not agitate for a move but has made no secret of his desire to join Arsenal and play for Arteta.
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