Bruno Guimaraes set for Arsenal move as Newcastle faces exodus

Arsenal are on the brink of landing one of the most significant signings of the summer, with Bruno Guimaraes granted permission to travel to London and complete a £75m move from Newcastle United.

The 28-year-old is due to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions in the coming days after the clubs agreed a fee, and an official announcement is expected soon after. For Mikel Arteta, it is the marquee midfield addition he has been chasing. For Newcastle, it is another painful farewell.

Guimaraes follows Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of St James’ Park in a single window that is stripping Eddie Howe of key pillars in his side. Newcastle insist they will not allow a full-scale dismantling of their first team, but the captain’s departure cuts deep.

For Arsenal, this is a statement. Arteta has been searching for a midfielder who can both dictate and disrupt, someone who can sit alongside or slightly ahead of Declan Rice and keep the champions’ tempo high as they defend their title. Guimaraes, with his blend of bite, vision and personality, fits that brief.

Arsenal’s Vinicius Jr dream fades

Arsenal’s ambition does not stop with Guimaraes, but reality is starting to bite in their pursuit of his Brazil team-mate Vinicius Jr.

The club have explored the possibility of prising the forward away from Real Madrid, yet the mood has shifted. Real have significantly improved their contract offer to the Brazilian, bringing it much closer to his expectations, and the sense from all sides is that he is now far more likely to stay in Madrid than swap the Bernabeu for north London.

Arsenal will keep watching the situation, but they know this one may be slipping away.

Liverpool eye audacious PSG double raid

On Merseyside, Liverpool are plotting an aggressive rebuild of their forward line under Andoni Iraola, and their gaze is fixed firmly on Paris.

Bradley Barcola remains a prime target, though PSG’s £140m valuation is a major obstacle. Liverpool are attempting to drag that figure down, but there is a twist: they also want his team-mate Ibrahim Mbaye.

Reports in France suggest the Reds are interested in both wide players, a double move that could cost in excess of £200m. The strategy is clear. With Mohamed Salah gone, Iraola wants to reshape the right flank with pace, youth and goals.

The timing might just be in Liverpool’s favour. PSG are closing in on Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco in a £42.8m deal, and his arrival could open the door for at least one departure from the current attacking group. If Akliouche is the incoming piece, Barcola or Mbaye – or both – could be the ones PSG are prepared to cash in on.

Can Liverpool really pull off a double swoop of that scale? Financially and tactically, it would define their new era.

Newcastle dig in over Lewis Hall

Back in the North East, Newcastle are determined that the Guimaraes sale will be the last major outgoing of the summer.

Manchester United have identified Lewis Hall as their top target at left-back and are prepared to go to around £60m to bring the 21-year-old to Old Trafford. Newcastle’s stance is blunt: Hall is not for sale.

With Tonali, Gordon and now Guimaraes all heading out, Newcastle insist they cannot afford another first-team loss if they are to remain competitive. United’s need is clear, but so is Newcastle’s resolve. The saga may yet test both.

Chelsea line up Pep Chavarria

Chelsea, meanwhile, continue their relentless churn of arrivals.

The club are close to signing Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano as a replacement for Marc Cucurella. The 28-year-old left-back has been identified with the help of Xabi Alonso and is set to become Chelsea’s 10th signing of the window.

It is another calculated move in a summer of heavy squad reshaping at Stamford Bridge, with Chavarria expected to provide experienced balance on the left side of defence.

Bournemouth move for Juanlu Sanchez

Further down the table, Bournemouth are pushing ahead with their own targeted business.

Juanlu Sanchez is in England for a medical ahead of an £11.2m move from Sevilla. The 22-year-old right-back is viewed as a developing piece for the Cherries, offering energy and attacking thrust down the flank as they look to build on last season’s progress.

Spurs cool on Nicolas Jackson

Across London, Tottenham have been quick to shut down one particular rumour.

Spurs have distanced themselves from a move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who has returned from a season-long loan at Bayern Munich and is available again this summer. Despite having already spent £237m, Spurs have not ruled out adding another attacker, with Cody Gakpo and Savinho both linked, but Jackson is not on their list.

The message is clear: recruitment will continue, but it will be on their terms, not driven by availability alone.

Norgaard swaps Arsenal for Everton

One deal that is already done is Christian Norgaard’s switch from Arsenal to Everton.

The 32-year-old midfielder has joined the Toffees in a £7m move on a two-year contract, seeking a bigger on-pitch role after serving as a trusted squad figure under Arteta.

"I felt I needed a change and to play a bigger football role," Norgaard said on arrival, explaining how conversations with David Moyes and Everton’s hierarchy sold him on the project. The move hands Everton experience and leadership in the centre of the pitch as they try to stabilise and climb.

Arteta, for his part, paid a warm tribute to the Dane. He described Norgaard as Arsenal’s "glue player", someone who held standards together in the background and delivered strong performances when called upon. That kind of player rarely grabs headlines, but managers remember them.

As Guimaraes prepares to walk through the doors at London Colney and Liverpool weigh up a £200m swing at PSG, the shape of the new season is coming into focus. Power is shifting, squads are being torn up and rebuilt, and one question hangs over the window: who will look back on this summer as the moment everything changed?