Arsenal could reportedly let three of their academy products leave the club this summer as a means of raising funds for their pursuit of Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes.
After starring during the Magpies' successful push for Champions League qualification last season, Guimaraes has enhanced his credentials as one of the Premier League's best all-around midfielders in 2023-24.
The former Lyon man has come up with five goals and eight assists in 46 matches across all competitions, but Eddie Howe's side were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage and will not be present in the 2024-25 edition either.
The Magpies are not assured of a place in Europe next season either, as they are currently in seventh position - which would be enough for the Europa Conference League - but West Ham United and Chelsea are hot on their trail.
Guimaraes, who was alleged to have been furious with Newcastle's failure to make it to the Champions League last 16, has been tipped to depart St James' Park in the summer window, although the Magpies are protected by his £100m release clause, which expires on June 30.
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Emile Smith Rowe among players who could be sold?
Whether an interested party triggers his nine-figure option before then remains to be seen, but all of Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United are believed to be interested in a swoop.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal would be willing to let all of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah leave the club this summer in order to boost their funds for Guimaraes, despite their coveted home-grown statuses.
Nketiah was only given a new contract in 2022, while Nelson extended his terms as recent as last summer, but the two academy products have only played peripheral roles under Mikel Arteta this season.
In addition, the injury-plagued Smith Rowe has failed to recapture his form from the 2021-22 season and has made just three Premier League starts in the current campaign, pointing towards his imminent exit.
The report adds that Arsenal would have no qualms about triggering Guimaraes's release clause, but they must offload their home-grown trio by June 30 in order to avoid any Profit and Sustainability rule breaches.
How is Arsenal's midfield shaping up for 2024-25?
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Should Arsenal win the race for Guimaraes this summer, the Brazilian fulcrum would likely slot into the number six slot in Arteta's midfield triumvirate, joining Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in a formidable engine room.
Guimaraes acting as the deepest-lying midfielder would allow Rice to continue in the number eight position following his success further forward this term, but the Gunners could lose three midfield names this summer.
As well as Smith Rowe, linked with Aston Villa and West Ham United, the seldom-seen Mohamed Elneny is out of contract in June, and an extension is highly unlikely.
Thomas Partey's deal runs for just over 12 months, and the Ghana international has forced his way back into Arteta's starting lineup recently, but he cannot be trusted to stay fit and might be moved on for the right price.
On the other hand, Jorginho has supposedly been offered an extension by the Gunners, and the former Chelsea man - due to become a free agent in June - is expected to put pen to paper.
Ben Knapton
