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Guimaraes completes £75m move
Arsenal completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle for £75 million, with the deal described as a four-year contract with an option of a further 12 months.
“cerrar un acuerdo de 75 millones de libras por el capitán del Newcastle, Bruno Guimaraes.”
Goal reported that Mikel Arteta had continued his “agresiva campaña de fichajes” by closing the agreement for the 28-year-old former Newcastle captain, and said the arrival marked the third major signing of the summer after Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier.
Football London said Arteta hailed the £75million acquisition after a 3-2 friendly defeat to Borussia Dortmund, with Guimaraes presented at the Emirates Stadium before kick-off.
In Arteta’s account, the move was driven by what he saw immediately at the training ground, and he said: "I'm delighted to have him."
Arteta added that the club wanted to go “to the next level,” and he framed the signing as part of a broader push to strengthen the squad.
Zubimendi price and Carragher
While Arsenal celebrated Guimaraes’ arrival, Goal said the club demanded at least 90 million euros (77 million pounds) to move Martin Zubimendi out of the Emirates this summer.
Goal also cited a report from Mundo Deportivo describing Zubimendi as being in a “situación precaria” because his guaranteed starting role had disappeared after Guimaraes’ transfer.
In a separate reaction, Jamie Carragher questioned whether Zubimendi could ever regain his role, telling Football Ramble: "Se suponía que iba a llegar y ser ese controlador."
Carragher then added: "No creo que vuelva a recuperar ese puesto nunca", as he argued that Guimaraes’ physical presence and technical security would shape Arsenal’s midfield.
Football London, meanwhile, quoted Arteta’s view that Arsenal needed players with “personality, desire and character” to push the organisation higher after conceding “some poor goals” in pre-season.
Next steps for Arsenal
After the Borussia Dortmund friendly, Arteta told reporters that Arsenal want to stay active in the transfer market, saying: “Well, that's what we're trying to do.”
““Well, that's what we're trying to do. “If we have the right player in the market”
Roundtable.io said Arsenal’s summer business was “isn’t over yet,” and pointed to defensive concerns after Arsenal conceded three goals in back-to-back games and then lost 3-1 to Real Betis on Wednesday.
Arteta also linked the need to improve to collective responsibility, saying: “We conceded some poor goals today in the way we competed especially, but that's um a very collective responsibility.”
The same source said William Saliba was still recovering from the back injury he picked up at the World Cup, while Jurrien Timber missed the Dortmund game and “won’t be back straight away.”
As Guimaraes integrates, Arteta reiterated his excitement about the “energy” and “hunger” he brought to the training ground, and said: “We want to go to the next level.”
