Arsenal are now expected to formally open talks with Newcastle United over a deal to sign midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to a new update from GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

Arsenal have had a quiet start to the summer transfer window, with the addition of goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer their only incoming business so far, with Piero Hincapie also completing a permanent move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had looked to sign Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga, but that deal was hijacked by Manchester City and he has joined Enzo Maresca’s side instead.

If reports are to be believed, two of the north London outfit’s biggest transfer priorities this summer are in central midfield and in attack.

Arsenal have made Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers their top attacking target, although their Premier League rivals are said to value him at a British transfer record fee of £130m.

The Gunners have also been linked with Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, among other names, but in midfield it is Guimaraes who is their key target.

Jacobs: Arsenal Set to Open Formal Guimaraes Talks

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Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon and then Sandro Tonali from their midfield this summer, and they are determined to keep hold of the Italian’s former engine room partner.

However, Mikel Arteta is said to be particularly keen to bring the Brazil international to the club, and the ‘world-class’ player himself has made it clear that he would also like to join the Gunners if the deal was right for Newcastle.

Newcastle sources have denied any club-to-club contact yet, which has left the Tyneside outfit ‘astonished’ given what has been out in the media, but now Jacobs has confirmed on GMS’ latest Market Madness podcast that they are set to formally open talks with their Premier League rivals over a move.

He said: “Arsenal are expected to formally open talks with Newcastle United for Bruno Guimaraes, even though Newcastle flatly deny any contact and say the player is not for sale. And this is going to be really interesting because I don’t think we’re going to get an Alexander Isak situation where the player returns from the World Cup and starts throwing his toys out the pram or saying he doesn’t want to play for Newcastle United.

“Guimaraes is not like that. He’s been Newcastle through and through. They call him a Brazilian Geordie, and yet it’s very clear the player would like to join, and that has been directly communicated to Newcastle United. My understanding is that a lot of the talks so far have taken place through so-called super agents with mandates to do the deal and intermediaries.

“And in those verbal conversations, Arsenal have made it clear they’re prepared to go up to £60-65m, and Newcastle’s valuation of Bruno Guimaraes, if they change their not-for-sale stance, is more like £80-90m.”

Arsenal Hold Talks to Sign ‘France’s Best Midfielder’

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Arsenal are considering other midfield options too, according to reports, with one claiming that they have held talks over a potential deal for AS Roma and France midfield star Manu Kone.

Kone starred in the Les Bleus midfield after starting the World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco, and there is an expectation that he will be sold by the Serie A outfit this summer as interest in him grows.

Roma are said to value the 25-year-old at around the £50m mark, which would mean he would be cheaper than Guimaraes.

England booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in Miami, but it was far from straightforward.

Stale Solbakken’s side led through Andreas Schjelderup’s early strike and will rue Alexander Sorloth’s decision not to play the ball to Erling Haaland in a glorious two-on-one soon after.

Jude Bellingham dragged Thomas Tuchel’s men level just before the break, and Norway saw a second goal chalked off by VAR when Haaland was penalised for pushing Elliot Anderson ahead of Torbjorn Heggem’s effort. England survived a testing second half before Bellingham struck again in extra-time, pouncing on a mistake from goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to send the Three Lions through.

Norwegian Outlets Fume Over Camera Wire Controversy

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VG, Norway’s biggest newspaper, were adamant Nyland’s goal-kick was interfered with before Bellingham’s equaliser, reporting that the Norwegian camp believes Orjan Nyland’s shot from goal was stopped by a camera wire before England equalised, adding:

NRK echoed the fury, insisting the officials should have intervened: “The Norwegian team was furious after England tied the game 1–1. Before the goal, Orjan hits the camera wire across the field, so the ball is shorter than it should have been. The referees should have looked into that. If it turns out that the ball hit the cable, we are in for the refereeing scandal of the ages.”

Dagbladet Praise Solbakken’s Side Despite Exit

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Not every outlet dwelled on the controversy. Dagbladet instead focused on the mood back home, writing: “Snipp, snipp, snoot… last night the World Cup adventure was over for Norway. England won 2-1 in the quarter-finals. But rarely have Norwegian players been more cheerful after a loss. The World Cup ended up as a huge, Norwegian party.”

The paper noted that Solbakken’s squad will be honoured at Oslo’s Castle Square in the coming days, crediting the manager with uniting the nation “in a way no one else has done before.”

The ever-controversial Conor McGregor has received an immediate medical suspension following his 69-second loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.

‘The Notorious’ was competing in his first bout for more than five years, having last fought when he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

From the outset, former two-division world champion McGregor made it clear that his comeback wasn’t about titles or money. Instead, he was adamant that his return was about proving something to himself and inspiring his children.

The charismatic 37-year-old was in rare form on the microphone in the days leading up to the fight, telling his fans: “The Mac is back!”

However, anyone expecting a vintage McGregor performance was soon given a sudden jolt of reality as the Irish superstar injured himself with the very first strike he threw in the contest.

Conor McGregor Suffered A Devastating Injury at UFC 329

McGregor began the fight aggressively, leaping in with a jumping roundhouse kick in an effort to put Holloway on the back foot. The daring move, though, essentially cost Conor all chance in the bout.

Landing awkwardly on his right leg after throwing the kick, McGregor immediately suffered an injury that left him unable to stand. The biggest star in UFC history showed amazing heart to try and continue, but simply couldn’t keep his footing, slipping to the mat every time he attempted to deliver a blow.

Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images

To his credit, Holloway bellowed at the referee to try and let him know what had happened. After a brief hesitation, official Mike Beltran waved the contest off, with Max taking the victory.

McGregor was so devastated afterwards that he limped straight out of the arena. For the first time in his UFC career, he failed to give a post-fight interview, and he even reportedly refused to use a set of crutches when he arrived backstage.

While he didn’t make any comment at the arena, McGregor did take to social media late on Saturday evening, where he expressed his mood as being “beyond dark” following the bitter disappointment of his loss.

Following Saturday’s bout, McGregor now has just one more fight remaining on his current UFC deal. It remains to be seen if he will take up that option, although he seemed adamant that he would see the contract through just a few days ago.

However, if Conor does decide to fight on, he won’t be doing so any time soon. No firm update has emerged regarding the fighter’s leg injury, but we do know that the polarising star is now under a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

UFC 329 Suspensions Explained

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images

The commission, which oversees all relegated combat sports activities in Las Vegas, requires all participants to serve a minimum suspension of one week. This means that even victorious fighters on the UFC 329 card such as Holloway and Paddy Pimblett must sit on the sidelines as a precaution for seven days before returning to training.

In cases where a fighter has fallen to a TKO loss or suffered “significant damage” they are likely to be subject to a far longer ban. Given the relatively serious-looking nature of McGregor’s injury, he is facing a maximum of 180 days out of action and is likely to only be allowed to resume full contact training when cleared by a physician.

McGregor, who turns 38 next week, must now take some time to consider his future. On the basis that his body broke down within seconds of the start of his comeback fight, many observers would like to see the UFC legend hang up his gloves for good.

No matter what he decides, though, he faces an extended spell on the sidelines after one of the toughest nights of his professional life in Sin City.