Bruno Guimaraes has been told to reject Manchester United and join Arsenal this summer, with playing time cited as the defining factor in the decision.
Former Arsenal and United defender Mikael Silvestre believes the Brazilian would struggle to break into Michael Carrick’s starting XI at Old Trafford following their recent midfield signings.
Manchester United have already bolstered their engine room by signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively ahead of the new campaign.
Silvestre, speaking to Grosvenor Sport, argued that those additions make Guimaraes surplus to requirements at United before he has even arrived.
“I don’t think Manchester United need another top midfield player like Guimaraes after signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to play with Kobbie Mainoo,” Silvestre said.
“Guimaraes will always want to start. When you are starting for the Brazil national team, you need to be starting for your club. So I think Arsenal would be a better fit for him.”
The 28-year-old is determined to leave Newcastle this summer after four years at St. James’ Park, with a desire to play Champions League football driving the move.
Newcastle finished in a disappointing 12th place in the Premier League last season, meaning there will be no European football of any kind on Tyneside in 2026/27.
Guimaraes enjoyed a strong World Cup campaign, registering four assists for Brazil before missing a penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Norway in the last-16 knockout round.
His domestic form was equally impressive, scoring nine goals and delivering seven assists in 29 appearances during what was his best attacking return since joining from Lyon in January 2022.
Silvestre also pointed to specific qualities Guimaraes possesses that current Arsenal midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly do not fully offer Mikel Arteta’s side.
“It was a strange one to see Martin Zubimendi benched last season,” Silvestre added. “I thought he had some good performances but there were some blips and then Myles Lewis-Skelly showed he had that extra layer to his game, breaking the lines with his running.”
“Zubimendi can’t do that. He’s a different kind of player, [but] Guimaraes can do both. He’s a bit more aggressive, or at least more aggressive than Zubimendi, and to defend your title, you’re going to need characters like him.”
Silvestre went further, insisting Guimaraes is exactly the type of player Arsenal require to mount another serious Champions League challenge this season.
“If you want to reach the final of the Champions League again and defend your title, you need bodies, and it would make a lot of sense for Arsenal to bring in Guimaraes,” he said.
Newcastle are not prepared to sell their star midfielder for anything less than £90 million, with Arsenal also looking at him as cover for Declan Rice amid doubts over Zubimendi’s long-term future at the club.
Arsenal have moved decisively in the transfer market already, permanently signing Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen and bringing in Illan Meslier on a free transfer from Leeds United.
Christos Tzolis is set to become their third addition after Arsenal agreed a £34 million deal with Club Brugge, and the arrival of Guimaraes would represent the most significant piece of business yet.
