Arsenal’s interest in Bruno Guimaraes is well known but the Gunners know full well they need to have other targets in mind.
Newcastle are looking for around £100m to even consider selling Guimaraes after bringing in north of £150m for Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.
The Magpies’ stance on keeping Guimaraes if they can could indeed force Arsenal to look elsewhere.
And here at Arsenal Insider, we think there’s three obvious alternatives for the Gunners to move for.
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The Bruno Guimaraes alternatives Arsenal could target this summer
Option number one for Arsenal is perhaps the most obvious in the form of Moroccan World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Bouaddi has shown in this summer’s tournament just how good he is and with Arsenal already touching base regarding his potential signing, he’s a player who could be looked at.
Bouaddi is still only a teenager but with what he’s done at the World Cup, he’s shown that isn’t an issue whatsoever.
There is big competition for Bouaddi and Lille will want huge money to sell. But this one feels doable and ultimately, Arsenal have to be in the mix if he’s moving on.
The second option is another young man but this time with Premier League experience under his belt and that is Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
Scott has long been tipped to make an impact at one of the very top clubs in England and it’s little wonder to see him being linked with a move.
For Arsenal, there is an obvious benefit to signing Scott in that he will not need any settling in time for the English game.
That, and the idea that he is clearly ready to make the jump to a bigger club, means Scott could be a viable option for the Gunners.
Finally, another player who has impressed at this summer’s tournament is French star, Manu Kone.
With Aurelien Tchouameni out injured, Kone has stepped in and filled the void with quality, composure, and a will to win that fits with Arsenal’s ethos.
Kone is also more of a battling midfielder who sits deeper, thus allowing Mikel Arteta to let Declan Rice roam further forward.
Ultimately, Kone is another option who seems gettable and crucially, he’ll cost less than the likes of Guimaraes of Scott.
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