Why Arsenal should sign £85m World Cup star instead of Bruno Guimaraes

Should Arsenal supporters be worried about a lack of business in the transfer window? Perhaps not yet, but it will understandably be a worry that nothing looks particularly imminent.

The Gunners are pushing on multiple fronts. Julian Alvarez and Morgan Rogers are key targets in the forward areas while in midfield, Bruno Guimaraes is the number one option.

Yet, there are so many obstacles here. Despite the fact the Brazilian wants to move to the Emirates Stadium, Newcastle do not want to sell the player and if he is to leave, they would like the best part of £100m, the same fee they sold Sandro Tonali for.

Alas, signing a midfielder, whether it be Guimaraes or someone else, is a necessity.

Why signing a midfielder is a must for Arsenal

Understandably, Arsenal’s mindset right now is to capitalise on their success as quickly as possible. The aim is to build a dynasty, to build a team capable of winning back to back Premier League titles.

The Gunners want win-now signings and in the shape of Rogers, Alvarez and Guimaraes, they would get just that.

But, why do they want the latter? Well, it’s become abundantly clear that Mikel Arteta and Co simply have to get a midfielder through the door.

While Mikel Merino will be back from injury and Myles Lewis-Skelly has now emerged as a real option in the centre, they did have their midfield struggles last term.

It’s safe to say that Declan Rice currently resembles something of a dead man walking. For England at the World Cup, he has been well below the level expected of him, primarily due to injury and illness.

Rice had to be withdrawn at half time in the game versus Norway due to sickness and has been managing neural pain right throughout the tournament.

Likewise, Martin Zubimendi’s fitness has not been in the best place. The Spaniard had to be managed closely towards the back end of last season with Lewis-Skelly eventually surpassing him in the pecking order, notably starting the Champions League final.

What is the common denominator between Zubimendi and Rice? No other member of the squad from an outfield perspective played more minutes than the midfield duo in 2025/26. It is no surprise that they look rather knackered. Both players need a long rest and they need competition next season.

Guimaraes could be the man to give them that respite but perhaps there is a better option out there.

Why £85m midfielder should be Arsenal’s solution

Arsenal want Bruno. Bruno wants Arsenal. It’s just a pity that Newcastle are unwilling to let him go for a decent price.

As a result, alternatives will have to be turned to. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is one but again, could cost a pretty penny at £80m. The Cherries also do not want to see him leave.

Perhaps the solution could lie in Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi? The trouble is, Manchester City are pushing hard for that one.

Indeed, according to David Ornstein on Tuesday, City are the team the Moroccan is most likely to join. However, a plethora of Premier League teams have also held talks with the player’s camp over the last year, including Arsenal and Manchester United.

Valued at £85m, this would not be a cheap deal either, but Bouaddi looks like one of the best young players in Europe right now; he could well be worth pursuing over Guimaraes.

The Brazilian is certainly a win now signing. He’s 29 in November and Premier League proven. He’s the captain of the Toon and has sparkled for so many years at the heart of Eddie Howe’s midfield. He ticks so many boxes.

Yet, Bouaddi has age on his side. He is just 18 and looks like he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world. He is already quickly reaching that status.

The Morocco superstar enjoyed a terrific World Cup for his country, notably starring in one of the first games of the tournament, their 1-1 draw with Brazil. During that game, the teenager not only dominated Guimaraes but ran rings around him, completing 91% of his passes, making three successful dribbles and winning nine of his 14 duels.

Much like Guimaraes, this is a multi-faceted midfielder. Yet to score in his senior career, he certainly doesn’t have the same attacking tendancies but that’s not arguably what Arsenal need this summer. No, they need someone capable of stepping in for Zubimendi. They need a composed figure, a duel winner with better ball carrying abilities than the Spaniard. Bouaddi would certainly bring that.

In the words of Como scout Ben Mattinson, Bouaddi is a “£100m midfielder” in the making and his performances at such a young age on the biggest of stages supplements that viewpoint.

His confidence and performance levels as a teen are rather similar to Lewis-Skelly and even if they already have one young midfielder coming through the ranks, the idea of partnering the two together is a mouthwatering one.

Guimaraes would add so much to this Arsenal team but just how many years he has left at the elite level remains unclear. Bouaddi, however, has his whole career ahead of him. The Gunners would be getting their hands on a player with the potential to become even better than Bruno in the years to come.