Arsenal plans to sign a second midfielder right after completing the Bruno Guimaraes deal.
Arsenal is reportedly looking to sign a second midfielder as Bruno Guimarães seems close to joining the team soon.
The Newcastle captain has been linked with a move to Arsenal all summer. On July 31, French outlet L’Équipe reported that Arsenal has agreed on an initial £77 million fee, with talks still ongoing about bonuses and agent costs. Guimarães is not expected to join Newcastle’s pre-season training in La Manga, which hints that the deal could be done soon.
Manager Mikel Arteta hopes Guimarães will make a great midfield partner alongside Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino.
Meanwhile, German outlet Fussballdaten says Arsenal is now targeting Mainz’s defensive midfielder Kaishu Sano from Japan after agreeing on Guimarães. They’ve already reached out to his representatives about a possible transfer.
The 25-year-old Sano is being watched by several English clubs, including Liverpool, Spurs, and Newcastle. Premier League teams like his strong defensive skills, technical ability, and work rate. Mainz values Sano between £43 million and £51 million, and he’s under contract with them until 2028.
Sano played three games in the 2026 World Cup and joined Mainz in 2024 after playing for Machida Zelvia and Kashima Antlers in Japan. If he signs for Arsenal, he will probably be a squad player as they compete in four competitions next season: Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
AC Milan is also interested but prefers a loan deal with an obligation to buy rather than paying a full fee now. Spurs have talked directly with Sano’s agent, and Liverpool is keeping in touch with Mainz.
In a recent interview with German outlet BILD, Mainz’s sporting director Christian Heidel said the club doesn’t have to sell Sano this summer. He explained, “We like to keep transfers quiet until they are announced. I won’t comment on rumors or clubs involved. We can afford to keep Kaishu, and if he stays, many people will be happy.”
He added, “But like always, if an offer comes that surprises us, we have to think about it!”
He also acknowledged earlier interest in June, saying, “England is known for signing top players. Our advantage is Kaishu’s long contract, so we’re not under pressure and won’t rush anything. We’ll consider offers, but if they’re too low, he might stay longer. For now, everything is open, but we know he’s attracting a lot of interest.”