Arsenal latest: Mikel Arteta closes in on shock transfer as £75m offer emerges

A surprising transfer development is said to be unfolding at Arsenal

With the summer transfer window entering its final month, Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of several new signings.

Activity at the Emirates Stadium has gathered pace of late, with the Gunners' interest in Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior dominating headlines. No formal proposal for the Brazilian has been lodged as yet, with any move dependent on how his ongoing contract talks at the Bernabeu unfold in the coming days.

Elsewhere, Bruno Guimaraes is firmly in Arsenal's sights, with the midfielder's name having been consistently linked with a transfer to north London for the best part of two months. Arsenal's wishlist does not stop there, either.

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Julian Alvarez is among those attracting attention, as is recently-linked forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who is said to have handed in a transfer request at Lille. For now, though, Mikel Arteta's summer business consists of three completed deals: the permanent acquisition of Piero Hincapie for £34.5m, the free signing of Illan Meslier, and the £34m arrival of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.

£75m offer for Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal have reportedly lodged an improved bid for Bruno Guimaraes totalling £75m. Reports last week claimed the Gunners had readied a £70m offer for the Newcastle United midfielder, which was said to have been turned down.

The north Londoners are understood to have used intermediaries in their dealings with the Magpies, rather than submitting a formal, direct bid. However, ESPN Brazil reports that Arsenal have now tabled an offer comprising a guaranteed fee of £70m, plus £5m in bonuses and add-ons.

The report acknowledges that this bid remains short of Newcastle's valuation of their captain. Nevertheless, it claims that the prospects of an agreement being reached are promising, with negotiations expected to advance this week.

Guimaraes has made it clear to Newcastle's hierarchy that he wishes to leave should Arsenal and the Magpies reach an agreement, viewing the north London club as a significant step forward in his career. Crucially, the 28-year-old has no intention of agitating for a move if the two clubs fail to agree on a transfer fee.

Secret deal nearly complete

ESPN also claims Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of a centre-back. The outlet revealed via its YouTube channel that discussions over a mystery defender are further along than the potential deal for Guimaraes.

It is therefore claimed that a deal for the defender could quietly be finalised imminently, though his identity remains undisclosed. The Gunners have been linked with several defensive targets in recent weeks, with William Saliba's back injury expected to sideline him for at least the opening months of the campaign.

John Stones represented one possible option, however the England veteran is set to complete a move to Inter Milan this week. Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa is another defensive target Arsenal have had their eye on, although recent reports suggest the two clubs remain apart over their valuation of the England international.