Arsenal are close to signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United after both sides reached an “agreement” over an £80m deal for the midfielder.

After Arsenal’s opening bid for the 28-year-old was knocked back, talks between the clubs progressed on Tuesday and Guimaraes is now close to getting his move.

The deal represents a key piece of business of Mikel Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s title defence - while Newcastle will be left to wave goodbye to another key player following the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinicius Jr continues, too, although Real Madrid are said to have offered fresh terms to the Brazilian after his return to training this week.

Manchester United want to sign a left-back, meanwhile, with Lewis Hall reportedly now set on a move to Old Trafford, but Newcastle are determined to stop the exodus and insist he is not for sale.

Liverpool want to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, and the European champions may have already landed his replacement: Maghnes Akliouche is set to join PSG from Monaco.

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Arsenal close in on Guimaraes with ‘agreement’ reached

Good morning and welcome. Here’s more on today’s top story: Arsenal’s move for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is finally nearing completion.

The Gunners are confident of finally singing the 28-year-old midfielder, whose future has been the subject of frenzied speculation for weeks ever since it emerged that he had indicated that he wanted to leave Tyneside for the Emirates Stadium.

Guimaraes reported for duty at Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in La Manga in Spain on Monday, just hours after Newcastle rejected an opening bid from Arsenal.

It now appears that significant progress has been made with the Premier League champions closing in on a deal which would see them finally capture a man they have long coveted.

Newcastle have known for months that they might have to make a decision over a player they did not want to sell, while holding a valuation – understood to be in the region of £80m – at which business might have to be done.