Arsenal news: £60m Bruno Guimaraes alternative identified as fresh bid prepared

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Arsenal are ramping up their pursuit of several key targets in the summer transfer window. As we approach two weeks since the window officially opened, the Gunners have been working behind the scenes to land a defender, a central midfielder and a winger, at the very least.

Manager Mikel Arteta is expected to be handed another £250million to spend in an effort to defend Arsenal 's Premier League crown this season. The likes of Aston Villa talisman Morgan Rogers, Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga and Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium in recent days.

While none of those have been confirmed just yet, the English champions finally announced the permanent £34.5m signing of Piero Hincapie on Thursday, following his season-long loan in N5.

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Now, it appears sporting director Andrea Berta has begun to address the midfield, with Mirror Football taking a look at two of the latest transfer developments involving the north Londoners.

Arsenal are reportedly set to submit an improved offer for Bruno Guimaraes after having their initial £55m approach rejected by Newcastle . The Gunners made a verbal offer for the 28-year-old Brazil international, which was immediately turned down, as the Magpies insist he is not for sale .

However, Brazilian outlet Globo reports that Berta has already indicated he will return with a second offer. The Italian is clearly a fan, having tried to sign Guimaraes during his time at Atletico Madrid in 2020, only for the midfielder to join Lyon instead.

It follows reports of Arsenal ’s interest in another Newcastle central midfielder, Sandro Tonali, who was offered to Berta by the player’s agent in January. For the time being, interest in Tonali seems to have cooled in favour of his team-mate Guimaraes.

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is another player on Arsenal’s radar this summer. The Cherries have reportedly put a £60m price-tag on the 22-year-old, who, given his age, is a more cost-effective option than Guimaraes.

Now, former Premier League striker Darren Bent has claimed Scott represents better value than other top midfielders such as Elliot Anderson, who is poised to make a £116m move to Manchester City .

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Bent said on talkSPORT : "Elliot Anderson for £120m or Alex Scott for £60m - I’m taking Alex Scott all day, every day. There’s no way on the planet that Elliot Anderson is £60m better than Alex Scott, he’s just not.

"I like Elliot Anderson, I think he’s a top player but for that money, £120m is crazy. He’s been decent [at the World Cup] but not £120m. Alex Scott for £60m, I promise you now if I had the choice."