Arsenal really like Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United, but there are various factors affecting a potential move for him, according to David Ornstein.

Writing in his Q&A for The Athletic on Friday, David Ornstein reported that Arsenal really like Bruno Guimaraes as a potential summer signing, specifically if they decide to sign a ‘6’.

Guimaraes can also play as an ‘8’, but Arsenal see him more in the 6 role, as do Newcastle. If Arsenal’s midfield transfer business instead focuses on signing an 8, with Rice playing a deeper role, the Gunners would be less likely to pursue the Newcastle man.

On top of that, Ornstein suggests it’s not certain Arsenal or anyone else will want to pay Guimaraes’ £100m release clause.

With Newcastle unwilling to lose the midfielder and the player himself happy where he is, negotiation below that figure may prove difficult.

Fabrizio Romano reported last week that whilst Guimaraes does have a £100m release clause in his contract, the clause is only valid from the last week of May to the beginning of the last week of June.

After that, Newcastle would have full control of his price and any potential negotiations for the remainder of the summer window.

Sam Dean of The Telegraph claims both Arsenal and Manchester City have made Guimaraes aware of their interest in him ahead of the summer transfer window.

Both clubs are considering a summer move, which could mean a repeat of last year’s transfer battle for Declan Rice.

But Dean added that the interested clubs were hoping to pay less than the release clause.

Arsenal were reportedly genuinely interested in signing Guimaraes even before he joined Newcastle United.

Various sources claimed in 2022 that whilst the club never made a formal offer, they did like the player, they just preferred other targets at the time.

The midfielder has made 46 appearances for Newcastle this season, scoring five goals and assisting eight, as well as picking up 14 yellow cards.