Arsenal are in advanced talks with Newcastle United over a deal to sign Bruno Guimaraes, according to talkSPORT.
The Gunners have made the Brazil international a top target for this window as they look to bolster their midfield following their Premier League title win, and talks have been ongoing behind the scenes for a number of weeks.
But with Guimaraes due to report back to training with the Magpies later this week, Arsenal have stepped up their interest in getting a deal done, and talks have progressed in recent days.
Arsenal Close in on Bruno Guimaraes Deal
via Reuters
According to a report, Arsenal and Newcastle are now in advanced talks over a deal for Guimaraes.
The central midfielder, who has been described as ‘elite’, has told Newcastle chiefs that he would like to leave the club to push through a move to the champions, but the Magpies have been adamant that they would not be bullied into selling another star, after Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali both moved on earlier in the window.
Arsenal were initially confident they could get a deal done for around £60m, but it’s now believed that talks have progressed and they are edging towards a verbal agreement worth in excess of £75m.
The 28-year-old midfielder has already agreed personal terms ahead of a switch to the Emirates Stadium, and now looks set to become the next big departure at St James’ Park.
Arsenal are hopeful of striking a full agreement with Newcastle before the end of the week, with the player due to return to pre-season training before the month ends.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Arsenal Making Moves in the Market
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Arsenal have been very keen to make a number of additions to their squad this summer as they look to refresh their options, and Guimaraes is one of the best signings they could make.
A combative midfielder with leadership and Premier League experience, he is comfortable in possession and out of it, and will help to take the team to the next level, while also helping to allow players like Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi to be rotated without the quality of the team dropping.
It may be an expensive deal, but it’s one that will take them even closer to glory, and Newcastle now must lick their wounds and begin looking for replacements once again.
Sport has always had its controversies and scandals and cricket is no exception, from the highest echelons of the game right down to the local level.
‘Sandpapergate’ is one such incident. In 2018, during the third Test between Australia and South Africa, Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft was spotted on camera using sandpaper to illegally scuff and roughen the ball with the full knowledge of his captain, Steve Smith, and vice-captain, David Warner. The team hoped that it would curve in the air and confuse the South African batters, who would hit the ball incorrectly. Both Warner and Smith were suspended from international and domestic cricket for 12 months, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
But now there’s a new scandal that is rocking the sport, this time in local cricket, and it has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community.
Saltburn Cricket Club are currently first on the division two ladder in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League after 15 matches, but they are now facing serious allegations of cheating that threaten to unravel their good form, with severe sanctions likely if they are proven guilty.
Cricket Team Goes Viral For ‘Cheating’
In a now viral video, a fielder can be seen to click his fingers as the ball goes past the bat to mimic the sound of the ball clipping the bat on several separate occasions. Each time, the keeper catches the ball behind the stumps and the fielding side appeal to the umpire, who gives it out.
In one clip, an aggravated batter can be seen to complain to the umpire and point towards the fielder at first slip, who has allegedly clicked his fingers.
While it could be difficult to prove conclusively that the batter has missed the ball, due to the video quality and angle of the footage, a gap between the bat and the ball can be seen as a shot has been played, which is visible in still images obtained from the original footage.
A fact which is increasing suspicion is the impressive catching record of Saltburn’s wicket keeper, who has taken 31 catches in his last eight matches, including eight in one innings, one more than the Test record of seven. For context, the record for the most catches by a wicketkeeper in a Test series belongs to former Australian gloveman Brad Haddin, who took 29 catches across 10 innings in the 2013 Ashes.
Reuters / Philip Brown Livepic
The club have removed some official streams of their matches from their website since the accusations have been made, which has raised some eyebrows.
North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League have since made a statement and said: “The League have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday.
“A full investigation has been made and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Fellow cricketers in the league have accused the club of cheating.
Ben Mummery, a local cricketer from Durham, was the first to make this claim and commented: “Saltburn first slip clicks his fingers to imitate an edge, but nowhere near it and given out.
“This is about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket. Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season.”
He’s not the only one to decry it. The Middlesbrough captain, Rory Cotterill, whose side are currently ninth in the league, commented on another clip: “There were two more incidents during this game, leading to a 15-and 16-year-old being cheated out of an innings, along with this one.
“I was at the non-strikers’ end at the time, unknowingly watching them cheat in real time. We lost this game by 29 runs. Shocking.”
Veteran broadcaster Piers Morgan also weighed in on the footage, branding it “outrageous”:
“Outrageous cheating, and just the tip of the iceberg from all that’s come out since it was exposed. Clicky Ponting (as he is now known) and various teammates at Saltburn CC, have clearly been at this shameful scam for years. Imagine doing this in local amateur cricket? Pathetic.”
British cricket writer Amer Malik was the first to mention the possible consequences. He said: “Looks as if Saltburn CC are in for a rude awakening.
“Having allegedly cheated their way through each weekend, the only viable option is to relegate them to the lowest division and impose extended bans on every first and second team player who represented the club during the period in question.”
The club is facing strong sanctions if they are found guilty, but the investigation has the power to not just rock the league but English cricket as a whole, with such actions strongly rebuked. Cricket fans will be waiting anxiously to discover the verdict and what lasting damage it will cause to the sport and its reputation.
The Gunners have had a relatively quiet summer so far in terms of arrivals, bringing in Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis to bolster their squad after winning the Premier League title last time around.
But Mikel Arteta is keen to make more additions ahead of the new season, and the forward positions are understood to be a priority. Now, the north London club are preparing to make a major first offer for their top target.
Arsenal Ready Offer for Vini Jr
Danilo Fernandez / Fotoarena/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Vini Jr has entered the final year of his deal, and Arsenal are now ready to make a formal bid to the Spanish giants to convince them to let him move on, and convince the player to move to London.
According to Sky Sports, Real Madrid are hopeful of reaching an agreement with Vini Jr on a new deal after several months of negotiations, but they are aware of Arsenal’s interest and will not risk losing the winger for nothing next summer.
Vini Jr, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’, has been sent a counter-offer by Madrid to extend his deal, but Arsenal have informed the player and his camp that they are ready to submit their first official offer for his services.
The value of that offer hasn’t been revealed, although it’s likely to be a mega-money deal with the forward considered one of the best players in the world.
The Japanese international has interest from around Europe and in the Premier League, and he is interested in returning to England after leaving Ajax this summer.
Tomiyasu left Arsenal in the summer of 2025 after they agreed to mutually terminate his contract a year early.
The now-27-year-old has struggled with knee injuries, and his ability to play for Arsenal was limited.
Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Ajax in December on a six-month deal, featuring just nine times for the club during the second half of last season.
