SportFootballArsenal FCArsenal have been chasing a deal for Bruno Guimaraes for weeks and a deal to bring the midfielder to north London is now closer - even though Newcastle are reluctant sellers17:47, 30 Jul 2026Arsenal are now said to be 'increasingly confident' when it comes to their chances of clinching a deal for the wantaway Newcastle captain, Bruno Guimaraes.‌The Gunners have been pursuing Guimaraes all summer, making the Brazil international a priority transfer target. He is wanted to beef up Arsenal's midfield as Mikel Arteta and Co attempt to enhance a squad which not only won the Premier League last season for the first time in more than 20 years but also reached the Champions League final.‌It has been an open secret that Guimaraes is keen on the opportunity to compete for major trophies with Arsenal, even though Newcastle have no desire to sell their captain.‌However, it now seems as though the 28-year-old will get his wish with BBC Sport reporting that multiple sources now expect Guimaraes to join Arsenal.It's added that although Newcastle are still reluctant to admit defeat in their attempts to keep Guimaraes at St James' Park, Arsenal are hopeful of closing a deal worth around the £80million mark in the coming days.The news will come as a major boost for Arteta, who has already seen the club miss out on their top target for the left-wing berth, Morgan Rogers.‌Guimaraes would become the latest high-profile player to depart the Magpies if Arsenal can strike an agreement with Newcastle, with personal terms already done and dusted.Alexander Isak effectively went on strike last summer to clinch a £120m move to Liverpool, while Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have already been sold earlier in the current transfer window for significant fees to Barcelona and Tottenham respectively.‌Not only are Newcastle now likely to lose another talismanic player, but their head coach, Eddie Howe, is also moving on.It emerged on Thursday morning that Howe had informed Newcastle's top brass that he wished to stand down from his role in order to take a break.The former Bournemouth chief is poised to be replaced by Matthias Jaissle, the German coach currently in charge of Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Ahli.Article continues belowJoin our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Premier LeagueMikel ArtetaEddie HoweUEFA Champions League FinalArsenal FCNewcastle United FC