Arsenal are confident of finally reaching an agreement with Newcastle to sign Bruno Guimaraes.
It has been a saga that has dragged on this summer. Newcastle sources have repeatedly insisted that no club-to-club talks have taken place and that they have received no official approach.
Arsenal have largely been dealing with intermediaries, who encouraged them earlier in the window that a move would be possible.
Progress has now been made in the attempts to find an agreement between the two clubs and there is growing optimism from Arsenal's side that a deal will be done.
Newcastle were demanding a fee in the region of Sandro Tonali's move to Tottenham for an initial £92million, but it is understood that a deal for around £75m to £80m is close to being finalised.
Arsenal hope Guimaraes will soon be joining Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis through the door.
The Gunners view the 28-year-old as their top midfield target, having been admirers of his from his days at Lyon before he then joined Newcastle.
Guimaraes is keen on the move to Arsenal and the shock news on Thursday that Eddie Howe has decided to leave Newcastle has done nothing to change that.
Guimaraes and Howe had a particularly close relationship. Speaking about his manager last year, Guimaraes said: “It’s tough to describe what a fabulous human being he is.
“You’d have to work with him on a daily basis to get the full picture of what I’m talking about. He is by far the best European coach I’ve had. No doubt he’ll be England manager one day.
“As a person, he’s a sensation – a true legend.”
Howe, meanwhile, has continued to praise Guimaraes this summer amid constant speculation over a move to Arsenal.
“I've had some really good conversations with him before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup," Howe said.
"What we speak about has to remain private, but he's just a great player, a great person.”
Reports suggest that Howe believed the club were going to sell Guimaraes and that played a part in his decision to leave.
Having already lost Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer, Howe may have been worn down by the prospect of losing his captain too.
Guimaraes is due to report back for pre-season on Friday and the Magpies expect him to be involved in their training camp in La Manga.
Whether Guimaraes does join up as planned or how forcefully he voices his wish to leave to the club's hierarchy could have a major bearing in how quickly this move now accelerates.
Arsenal are yet to submit their latest proposal and Newcastle's stance is that nothing has changed, with the club adamant they have not heard from the Gunners.
However, the player wants the move and the signs increasingly point to him getting it. For Arsenal, the waiting game is set to pay off.
