Arsenal are reportedly readying an offer of €30 million for Bruno Guimaraes, but Olympique Lyon want at least €40 million for the Brazilian midfielder.
According to a report from Brazilian publication Globo Esporte, Arsenal are lining up an opening offer of €30 million for Olympique Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes in the ongoing transfer window.
Guimaraes came through the youth ranks at Brazilian outfit GO Audax but earned his reputation with Athletico Paranaense before making his way to France in January last year when he signed for Lyon. The 23-year-old has steadily grown into a regular in the side since arriving, racking up 46 appearances in which he has scored three goals and set up two more for his teammates.
Guimaraes was a near ever-present figure in the 2020/21 Ligue 1 campaign as Lyon finished fourth. But with the club missing out on Champions League football and struggling with finances, they could be forced to cash in on some of their top players. Houssem Aouar had been linked with Arsenal before the Gunners ended their interest in him, although Liverpool are now keen on him.
And, Arsenal have diverted their attention towards Aouar’s midfield partner Guimaraes instead. While it is no secret that the Gunners require a new No. 10, a player who can operate in a deeper midfield role is also very much the need of the hour. After all, the north Londoners lost Dani Ceballos, whose loan spell with Real Madrid came to an end earlier this summer.
In addition, Granit Xhaka continues to be linked with an exit, whereas Mohamed Elneny is merely a squad player. With the pursuit of Sassuolo star Manuel Locatelli going nowhere, someone like Guimaraes, thus, could be an option worth considering for Mikel Arteta & co. as they continue their hunt for a midfield partner for Thomas Partey.
To that end, the report claims that Arsenal are now prepared to shell out €30 million for Guimaraes, who is currently away on Olympics duty with Brazil. Lyon, however, are said to seeking at least €40 million for their prized asset, leading to a potential standoff. The 23-year-old is contracted with Les Gones till the summer of 2024, which does put them in a strong negotiating position.
It now remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to meet Lyon’s demands for Guimaraes or try to negotiate a lower fee or move their focus to a different target altogether.
