Arsenal in talks over £100m ‘machine’ deal

It’s safe to say that had Arsenal lost out to Manchester City in the race to sign Declan Rice in 2023, Mikel Arteta’s side would not have been celebrating winning the Premier League this summer.

But according to statistician Statman Dave, the Gunners’ £105m deal for the England international has confirmed him as an elite talent and cemented his status as the “best of the best”.

Rice is currently a Premier League champion and will be one of the division’s standout stars throughout the 2024/25 season. It’s fair to say the big buck was well worth the effort and expense, and now Arteta may be looking to repeat the same trick with Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães.

Arsenal in contract talks with several Premier League midfielders

Guimarães, 28, is one of the Premier League’s best midfielders and has established a world-class reputation following his stellar performances for Brazil at the World Cup.

This week, Arsenal technical director Andrea Berta saw a £60m offer for the Magpies captain rejected by the player’s representatives.

Arsenal have yet to make a formal approach, but interest is very high as he returns on improved terms to see if a deal can be done. But it’s difficult and Berta and Arteta understand that and there are exciting alternatives available.

According to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are also in talks with the agent of Sandro Tonali, Guimarães’ dance partner at St James’ Park. The 26-year-old’s transfer fee could be in the region of £100m, which falls in line with Newcastle’s demands for their captain.

Tottenham appear to be leading the charge for the Italian midfielder, having already had two bids rejected, with a bid in the region of £80 million, but are said to be willing to move to Arsenal if interest from Berta and others intensifies.

Why Tonali is a better deal for Arsenal than Guimarães

It wouldn’t be a bad thing if Arsenal ended up adding Guimarães to their midfield, but while he may not be as flashy, Tonali could actually be a better signing for the Londoner.

The Italy international played a key role in Newcastle’s transformation under manager Eddie Howe, covering huge areas of ground every game and linking intelligently between the defensive and attacking thirds. He is an orchestrator and could work seamlessly with Rice in the center at Arsenal.

Additionally, Tonali is nearly three years younger than Guimarães, so while the Brazilian superstar may have more stock, Arsenal will likely make far more out of the 26-year-old.

While Guimarães is more advanced and certainly more of a threat in the final third, it is not part of Tonali’s playmaker and his patient and calculated approach to the midfield game could actually work in Arsenal’s favor, freeing up Rice and providing the security needed for attacking midfielders like Martin Odegaard and Ebelesi Eze to steal the headlines. At the end of the day, everyone has a different role to play on a soccer team.

Tonali is more relaxed than Guimarães in the center of the field. Outwardly, he is less passionate than his Brazilian partner. But make no mistake: his energy and ability to win the ball has helped establish Newcastle as a team capable of winning titles and qualifying for the Champions League, and he has been hailed as a “pressing machine” on Tyneside by reporter Andy Sixsmith.

Power, pace, and physicality are all fundamental parts of Tonali’s skill set. He may not have the expansive playmaking ability of Guimarães, but the Italian maestro knows how to pass the football and does it with a grace that, when combined with Rice, who created 17 big chances in the Premier League last season, could be a game-changer at Arsenal.

Arsenal are currently recognized as one of England’s best teams. They are no longer hunters, but the hunted. Signing a player like Tonali to stay ahead of the chasing pack could help them defend their title not just next season, but over a series of seasons.

Guimarães is one of the best players in the business, but he will turn 30 in less than a year and a half. If anything, Tonali’s longevity could make him a shrewder, more prudent addition to an Arsenal squad already hot on many cylinders.