Arsenal aren’t hiding it. Morgan Rodgers is Mikel Arteta’s number one target to strengthen his side as they look to defend their Premier League title.
The Aston Villa star is set to take the reins ahead of Bradley Barcola in this summer’s title race, with Arteta and Emirates sporting director Andrea Berta keen to sign the £130m-valued attacker. However, whether Villa can secure such a sum is another question.
premier league morgan rodgers | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | 24/25 | 25/26 |
Match (start) | 37 (37) | 37 (37) |
Goal + Assist | 8+10 | 10+6 |
touch* | 41.3 | 48.8 |
Exact path* | 17.6 (75%) | 21.5 (75%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 16 | 13 |
Key pass* | 1.4 | 1.3 |
Loss of ownership* | 13.7 | 16.7 |
It was successful. dribble* | 1.8 | 1.1 |
Ball recovery rate* | 3.2 | 3.8 |
Tackle + Interception* | 1.4 | 1.5 |
Win a duel* | 4.7 | 4.3 |
A £34 million deal for Christos Tzoris has been agreed with Club Brugge to replace the departing Leandro Trossard. But Arsenal also have one or two other targets in mind, the most notable of which is Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães.
How Guimarães auditioned for Arsenal at the World Cup
Guimarães is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but he made the international debut this summer, producing an influential all-action performance for Brazil at the World Cup.
In five games at the World Cup, Guimarães provided four assists, created two chances and made 2.2 tackles per game, and was undoubtedly one of Brazil’s stars, despite missing a crucial penalty in their last 16 defeat to Norway. You could also argue that the Arsenal man outplayed England’s Declan Rice despite playing through illness in the knockout stages.
It was a great audition for potential suitors. The experienced midfielder proved to those watching that he can attack and defend and lead his teammates with a clarity and precision that no one else can match.
Of course, Arsenal didn’t need this summer’s competition to confirm that Guimarães is a world-class midfielder. He has been a central figure in Newcastle’s rise over the past four years and is at the peak of his career.
But no matter how much Arsenal want him, they must not be drawn into over-inflated territory. Newcastle want £100m for their captain, but given his age and the fact that he is entering the penultimate year of his contract, that may be a bit high.
Berta has found an exciting alternative if Arsenal decide to go their separate ways.
Arsenal in talks to sign Guimarães’ replacement
Arsenal’s attention has now turned to Rodgers, who could be a game-changer in signings for the north Londoner. Given the expected outlay there, perhaps Arsenal could look to a cheaper replacement for Guimarães.
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of the clubs that have entered into negotiations with interested parties over the possibility of signing all-action midfielder Kaishu Sano, but Liverpool are currently at the most advanced stage.
Mainz do not want to sell their central player, whose stock price rose after his performance against Japan in the World Cup, but they are willing to sign him at a fair price, offering 60 million euros (approximately 5.1 billion yen) for the 25-year-old.
Guimarães remains the Gunners’ top target and, unsurprisingly, Sano’s tireless approach to midfield play has propelled him into the global pecking order and a move to the Emirates could cement him as one of the best players in the business.
He has all the attributes to become a star and has nurtured that potential in the German Bundesliga over the past two years. While Guimarães may be a much stronger threat in front of goal, and he will turn 30 in 2027, Sano is still going from strength to strength, showing his quality in North America after a long and grueling domestic tour.
League form comparison (2025/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | Sano | Guimaraes |
Match (start) | 34 (34) | 29(27) |
Goal + Assist | 1+2 | 9+5 |
touch* | 52.4 | 70.1 |
Exact path* | 30.2 (80%) | 43.1 (86%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 6 | 7 |
Key pass* | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Loss of ownership* | 10.6 | 14.0 |
It was successful. dribble* | 0.8 (67%) | 0.6 (38%) |
Ball recovery rate* | 6.0 | 4.7 |
Tackle + Interception* | 3.4 | 2.6 |
clearance* | 1.4 | 1.2 |
Win a duel* | 5.4 (63%) | 5.8 (50%) |
Perhaps the fact that Sano’s energetic and combative approach marks him out as someone similar to Guimarães could actually work in Arsenal’s favor, ensuring that Arteta has the blueprint he was hoping for heading into the new season.
Furthermore, the Japanese national team has had a much more progressive career than their opponents. The Gunners already have a carrier superstar in Rice, but Sano is inherently less creative and would balance out nicely with the English player.
Sano’s name may not be household name to many, but he is establishing himself as one of the most underrated all-action midfielders and could eventually become the superstar of this well-rounded Arsenal machine.
