Arsenal are set to make an offer of £70 million for Newcastle Captain Bruno Guimarães.
Brazil international Guimarães is a priority target for the Gunners as the midfielder aims to join the Premier League champions.
Newcastle are aware of the 28-year-old’s desire to join Arsenal this summer.
Negotiations over a potential move for Guimarães are ongoing and are believed to have accelerated in recent days.
An agreement on personal terms is not expected to be an issue, although it remains to be seen whether Arsenal’s £70m offer will match Newcastle’s valuation.
Sources close to Newcastle claim the Magpies have no plans to sell Guimaraes this summer and that the Gunners have not approached their player directly.
Arsenal are determined to bolster their squad with quality players this summer as they look to build on last season’s title.
The north London side were interested in signing Morgan Rodgers, who joined Chelsea for £117 million from Aston Villa, but refused to exceed their £80 million valuation for the player.
It is understood Arsenal were given the opportunity to match Chelsea’s bid for Rodgers but declined.
Similarly, Arsenal are pricing Guimarães harshly and are unwilling to overpay despite their desire to sign the midfielder.
Arsenal are also keen on Villa defender Ezri Konsa and are inquiring about the England international’s availability.
Konsa is Arsenal’s main defensive target.
The Gunners have also included Como’s Jacobo Ramon in their list of defenders, but it is understood clauses in the Spaniard’s contract are making a deal difficult.
Having missed Rodgers, the Gunners continue to look for attacking reinforcements.
Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez is an Arsenal target, but the player’s current desire to join Barcelona and a transfer fee that could exceed the UK record £125m set when Alexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool pose obvious challenges.
Arsenal are also considering a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Bradley Barcola.