Arsenal in talks to sign £51m star alongside Rogers

Arsenal are not hiding it: Morgan Rogers is their top target to strengthen Mikel Arteta‘s squad ahead of their Premier League title defence.

The Aston Villa star has steered ahead of Bradley Barcola in the race to join the champions this summer, with Arteta and Emirates sporting director Andrea Berta placing their full focus into signing the £130m-rated attacker. Whether Villa would secure such a sum is another question, though.

A £34m deal for Christos Tzolis has been agreed with Club Brugge, and he will replace the outgoing Leandro Trossard. However, Arsenal also have their sights set on one or two other targets, the most notable of which being Newcastle United skipper Bruno Guimaraes.

How Guimaraes auditioned for Arsenal at the World Cup

Guimaraes is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but this summer, he went global, producing influential all-action performances for Brazil at the World Cup.

Across five matches at the World Cup, Guimaraes claimed four assists, created two chances and won 2.2 tackles per game, undoubtedly one of Brazil’s star players, even as he missed a crucial penalty during their last 16 defeat against Norway. You could argue that he outperformed England’s Declan Rice, albeit the Arsenal man played through sickness over the knockout stages.

It was a fine audition for any potential suitors. The experienced midfielder confirmed to those watching that he can attack and defend and lead his teammates with a crispness and precision that most simply cannot match.

Of course, Arsenal did not need this summer tournament to confirm to them that Guimaraes is a world-class midfielder; he has been the centrepiece of Newcastle’s rise over the past four years, and is very much in the prime of his career.

However much Arsenal want him, though, they must not get drawn into overinflated territory. Newcastle want £100m for their skipper, but that may be a bit much, given his age and the fact he is heading into the penultimate year of his contract.

If Arsenal do decide to go down a different track, Berta has found an exciting alternative.

Arsenal in talks to sign Guimaraes alternative

Arsenal’s focus is being directed toward Rogers, who would be a game-changer of a signing for the north Londoners. Given the outlay anticipated there, perhaps Arsenal could turn to a less costly Guimaraes alternative.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are among the clubs who have entered talks with relevant representatives over a potential deal for all-action midfielder Kaishu Sano, though Liverpool are currently at the most advanced stage.

Mainz would rather not sell their central linchpin, whose stock has risen following his performances with Japan at the World Cup, but are open to a deal for the right price, listing the 25-year-old at €60m (£51m).

Guimaraes remains the Gunners’ top target, and understandably so, but Sano’s indefatigable approach to midfield play is launching him up the global pecking order, and a move to the Emirates could cement him as one of the best in the business.

He has all the attributes to be a star, and has fostered that potential over the past two years in the German Bundesliga. Guimaraes might be a much more potent threat in front of goal, but he turns 30 in 2027, and Sano is still going from strength to strength, showcasing his quality in North America after a long and hard-fought domestic campaign.

Perhaps the fact that Sano’s tireless and combative approach marks him as someone who is similar to Guimaraes could actually work in Arsenal’s favour, ensuring Arteta still lands the blueprint he has desired ahead of the new campaign.

Moreover, the Japan international is a far more progressive carrier than his counterpart. The Gunners already have a superstar of a carrier in Rice, but Sano is less inherently creative, and would balance well with the England man.

Sano’s name might not be known by that many, but he is very much establishing himself as one of the most underrated all-action midfielders around, and he could end up as a superstar for this well-oiled Arsenal machine.