Arsenal prepare second Guimaraes bid while £60m Scott emerges as midfield alternative

Arsenal are preparing a second bid for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and have identified Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a £60m fallback option, as sporting director Andrea Berta accelerates the club’s summer recruitment drive.

The Gunners made a verbal offer of around £55m for the 28-year-old Brazil international, which Newcastle swiftly rejected, with the Magpies maintaining that Guimaraes is not for sale. Brazilian outlet Globo reports that Berta has already signalled his intention to return with an improved proposal — a pursuit that carries personal significance for the Italian, who attempted to sign Guimaraes for Atlético Madrid in 2020 before the midfielder chose Lyon instead.

Arsenal’s interest in another Newcastle central midfielder, Sandro Tonali — who was offered to Berta by the player’s agent in January — appears to have cooled for now in favour of the Guimaraes chase.

Should that move prove too costly or complicated, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has emerged as an alternative. The Cherries have placed a reported £60m valuation on the 22-year-old, and former Premier League striker Darren Bent has argued that Scott represents superior value to other midfielders currently commanding higher fees.

“Elliot Anderson for £120m or Alex Scott for £60m — I’m taking Alex Scott all day, every day,” Bent said on talkSPORT. “There’s no way on the planet that Elliot Anderson is £60m better than Alex Scott. I like Elliot Anderson, I think he’s a top player, but for that money, £120m is crazy. Alex Scott for £60m, I promise you now if I had the choice.”

The midfield search forms part of a broader summer overhaul at the Emirates. Manager Mikel Arteta is expected to be backed with around £250m to strengthen the Premier League champions, with a defender and a winger also among the club’s priorities. Arsenal confirmed their first senior arrival of the window on Thursday, completing the permanent £34.5m signing of Piero Hincapie following his season-long loan.