Arsenal are reportedly looking to bolster their midfield in the summer with the signing of talented Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon.
According to Globo, Lyon would be willing to part with the 24-year-old for around £38 million. Guimaraes has attracted the attention of a number of top European clubs with his performances over the last few seasons.
He won four trophies with Athletico Paranaense during his stint with the Brazilian club before joining Ligue 1 side Lyon in January last year.
Guimaraes has since established himself as a key figure in the Lyon midfield, making 68 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The midfielder has three caps for Brazil and was part of the team that won gold in the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year.
The 24-year-old has three years left on his current deal with Lyon.
Why Arsenal need to sign Bruno Guimaraes
Arsenal were linked with Guimaraes on multiple occasions in the past, although they never made a concrete offer for the Brazilian.
Turnover and Ball progression among CM & DM | Top 5 European leagues
•Rodrigo de Paul is absolutely sensational
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•Danilo Pereira & Axel Witsel safe in possession but not as progressive pic.twitter.com/TgsOeBkDRi— Yash (@Odriozolite) December 16, 2021
However, their interest is reportedly much stronger this time around, with technical director Edu having already freed up funds for a potential move.
Arsenal’s lack of depth and quality in central midfield is well-documented. Thomas Partey is a world-class presence at the centre of the park, but he has failed to find his best form since arriving from Atletico Madrid.
Granit Xhaka has never really cemented his spot, while Mohamed Elneny lacks the quality to flourish in the Premier League. With Matteo Guendouzi unlikely to have a future at the club and Ainsley Maitland-Niles poised for an exit, Mikel Arteta has next to no options to call upon.
Thus, a move for Guimaraes is a no-brainer. The Brazilian is a technically gifted player who is fantastic in possession and blessed with great vision. He has a good passing range, which allows him to unlock defences from deeper positions on the field.
Guimaraes is also adept at driving the ball forward and beating the press, which will hold him in good stead at Arsenal, who like to play out from the back. He could prove to be the ideal partner for Partey in the Arsenal midfield.
The 24-year-old averaged 43.3 passes per game last season with a completion percentage of over 90. He also averaged 2.3 long balls.
A move to Arsenal would be a massive step up for Guimaraes, but if he can adapt quickly to the rigours of the Premier League, he could prove to be a fantastic long-term signing.