Guimarães medical expected Monday
Bruno Guimarães is on the verge of becoming an Arsenal player. Fabrizio Romano reports the Newcastle midfielder is expected to join shortly, with a medical set for Monday (4).
Newcastle have already started planning for life without him, with new coach Matthias Jaissle involved in finding a replacement (4). The fee is expected to be around £75million, with Newcastle reluctantly accepting the offer (2). Former scout Bryan King called it inevitable: "Yeah, I think it's almost inevitable that Bruno Guimaraes will end up leaving Newcastle in this summer's transfer window" (2).
Guimarães is also travelling to Newcastle's Spain training camp to submit a formal transfer request and force the move through (12).
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Vinicius agency hits back at Arsenal links
Roc Nation Sports International, the agency representing Vinicius Junior, has released a firm statement calling reports linking him to Arsenal "false and damaging" (13).
The statement lands as multiple outlets report Arsenal are prepared to table an opening bid of €100million, though Real Madrid are expected to reject it and demand more (9). Mikel Arteta is said to be personally fronting the operation (1). The club are reportedly willing to sell first-team players to fund what would be a British record deal (3).
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider: "There's a lot for it, and it is a real sign of intent from Arsenal, and I think they are taking it seriously. So yes, I think they can do it. It'll be a stretch" (3).
Real Madrid have also ruled out at least one exit route for the Brazilian (8).
Havertz: "We want all the trophies"
Kai Havertz scored in Saturday's 4–1 pre-season win over Girona and made his intentions clear afterwards: "We want all the trophies. That's what we're here for. We won the Premier League now, but there's a lot more that we can do" (11).
Christos Tzolis also found the net against Girona and earned praise from English media for an impressive and complete performance (15).
Saliba cover: three names on the shortlist
Arsenal are weighing centre-back options as they prepare for a possible extended absence of William Saliba. Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa, Real Madrid's Jacobo Ramón, and former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos at West Ham are the three names under consideration (7).
Norgaard on Everton's radar
Everton are pursuing Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard as the new season approaches (14). The Liverpool Echo's Joe Thomas reports the Danish midfielder fits David Moyes' plans.
Tomiyasu turns up at Crystal Palace
Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has made an unofficial debut for Crystal Palace on a trial basis (16). The Japan international is looking for a new club.
Fan reactions
The Guimarães news has fans buzzing, but the Vinicius saga is what's really splitting opinion. Roc Nation's "false and damaging" statement hasn't killed the chatter. The Mario Cortegana report claiming Arsenal have been in talks with Vinicius's camp for months, with personal terms cleared and a signing bonus on the table, has supporters convinced this isn't just paper talk. Arsenal view Vinicius as a "marketing cannon" in the Premier League, and the fact that contract renewal talks with Madrid have stalled is fuelling belief that something real is happening. Read the full thread.
