Arsenal's No. 39 shirt could be the key sweetener to lure Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle

Arsenal are preparing to renew their pursuit of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes this summer, with Mikel Arteta willing to use an unusual but meaningful incentive to help seal the deal: the midfielder’s cherished No. 39 shirt is currently available at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have already had a reported £55 million offer for the Brazil international knocked back by Newcastle, but are unlikely to walk away from a player who has emerged as their primary midfield target. Guimaraes is currently on World Cup duty with Brazil as the transfer saga continues to develop.

The significance of the shirt number runs deep. Guimaraes has worn No. 39 throughout his professional career — at Athletico Paranaense, Lyon and Newcastle — as a tribute to his father, Dick, who drove a taxi bearing that call sign around Rio de Janeiro for more than two decades. The family’s bond is close enough that they relocated to the north-east of England when Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022.

At Arsenal, the number has been largely dormant for over a decade. Hector Bellerin last wore it as a regular during the 2014/15 season. Most recently it was assigned to 20-year-old midfielder Harrison Dudziak, who made no first-team appearances and has been confirmed as departing the club this summer — leaving the shirt free.

The pursuit of Guimaraes comes in the context of a reshaping midfield at Arsenal. Mikel Merino missed the majority of the 2025/26 Premier League title-winning campaign through injury, while captain Martin Odegaard was also sidelined for a significant portion of the season. Martin Zubimendi featured in every league match on the way to the title but attracted criticism at times, and Declan Rice is widely regarded as the only midfielder with universal support among the club’s fanbase.

Newcastle’s financial situation may ultimately work in Arsenal’s favour. The Magpies are reported to need to raise funds through player sales, though parting with their captain will not be a decision they take lightly. Whether a sentimental detail like a shirt number can tip the balance remains to be seen, but for a player as emotionally connected to No. 39 as Guimaraes, it is far from a trivial consideration.