Arsenal completed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United during the summer transfer window in a deal worth £75million, with Gary Neville sharing his assessment of the Brazilian midfielder’s switch to north London.
Neville considers Guimaraes an excellent personality addition for Arsenal, and views the £75million outlay as good value in the current transfer market given what other players have commanded in recent times.
Newcastle found themselves involved in another tense and eventful transfer saga over the summer, twelve months on from the club’s previous high-profile departure involving Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool for £125million.
On this occasion, the situation surrounded the club’s captain, Guimaraes. Despite appearing content at St James’ Park heading into the summer despite Newcastle’s 12th-place league finish the previous campaign, circumstances shifted once Arsenal began tracking the 28-year-old’s status.
Following a prolonged period of negotiations, Arsenal eventually reached an agreement at the £75million valuation, with Guimaraes completing his move to north London earlier this month.
The Brazilian talent from Rio was immediately incorporated into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, appearing in the side that secured a 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Although Guimaraes was not included in Arsenal’s Premier League opening match against Coventry, which also ended 3-0, Neville is confident the signing will prove invaluable throughout the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former defender stated that Arsenal have essentially no weakness in their outfield positions when comparing first-team regulars to their understudies, with the notable exception of Declan Rice. He noted that should Rice be absent for an extended period, that would represent a genuine concern for the club. The arrival of Guimaraes eliminates that particular vulnerability, and he described the Brazilian as possessing significant presence and character. Neville acknowledged that while Guimaraes offers different qualities to Rice, both bring valuable leadership and personality to the team. He expressed that Guimaraes brings drive and aggression, and is the kind of player teammates would appreciate having alongside them. Neville concluded that the acquisition represents an excellent piece of business, and that the £75million fee compares favourably to other recent high-profile transfers, representing good value in the contemporary market.