Arsenal's bids for Bruno Guimaraes and Alex Scott both rebuffed as midfield hunt stalls

Arsenal’s pursuit of central midfield reinforcements has hit a double wall, with both Newcastle United and Bournemouth rejecting the Premier League champions’ advances for Bruno Guimaraes and Alex Scott respectively. Mikel Arteta’s side, fresh from ending a 21-year wait for a league title, are seeking significant squad additions ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Arsenal made contact for Guimaraes through intermediaries and had a verbal offer turned down, yet the same reports suggest a deal for the Brazilian is currently considered more attainable than one for Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali. That assessment comes despite Newcastle’s firm position that Guimaraes, who turns 29 later this year, is unsellable. Any fee that might force a change of heart would likely be substantial.

The situation with Scott is similarly complicated. Bournemouth have rebuffed Arsenal’s approach for the 22-year-old, who carries an £80 million price tag, and are actively working to tie him down to a new contract that would include a release clause. Whether Arsenal or any of Scott’s other admirers will push hard enough to test Bournemouth’s resolve remains unclear.

The wider market for proven Premier League midfielders is proving difficult to navigate. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, valued at £85 million, is attracting interest from Tottenham and Manchester United, while Tonali is being pursued aggressively by Spurs, with Manchester City also credited as admirers of the Italian.

Arsenal have also been linked with Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Morocco midfielder who has impressed at the World Cup, as Arteta’s recruitment team casts a wide net. The Gunners’ midfield ambitions are clear, but converting that intent into completed signings is proving a different challenge entirely.