Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Newcastle United for the signing of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
According to L’Equipe, the two sides have reached a broad agreement over a proposal worth £77million plus bonuses.
The 28-year-old’s contract has not been signed, but the deal is now very close.
The Magpies had been reluctant to part with their captain after losing other key players – such as Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon – this summer, but the Gunners have gone all out to get the deal done.
Guimaraes dropped a bombshell on the Newcastle hierarchy several weeks ago by informing them of his desire to leave. And he did not fly with the rest of the Toon squad to their pre-season training camp in La Manga on Friday.
The captain’s departure would cap off a challenging week on Tyneside, where fans are still heartbroken following the sudden departure of Eddie Howe.
The move would also result in Lyon, Guimaraes’ former club, receiving more than €8 million through a sell-on clause, according to L’Equipe.