Is Bruno Guimaraes a 'standout candidate' for Arsenal this summer?

Arsenal has some decisions to make on its midfield this summer with Mohamed Elneny already leaving and Thomas Partey potentially following, but is Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes a candidate to come to north London?

Arsenal knows what it must do if it is to usurp Manchester City in the Premier League, and it starts with doing something rather tough - improving a squad that managed the most league wins in club history in the Premier League era and a team that scored the most goals in a season in club history.

But there is a way to do it, and Mikel Arteta is reportedly already surveying the land to see where he can get good value additions to his squad.

While a striker is a clear need for the Gunners, despite scoring 91 times in 38 league games, midfield also looms as a crucial need this summer. With Mohamed Elneny already confirmed as leaving the club, and Thomas Partey potentially following suit, there are a couple of holes in Arteta's squad.

As such, Football London's Tom Canton has named Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes as a standout candidate for the Gunners this summer.

"Midfield is perhaps the area where there is the least amount of clarity on Arsenal’s targets," Canton writes. "There have been links to many options but the priority remains unclear, especially as interest in Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has somewhat cooled. Bruno Guimaraes is the standout candidate in terms of quality and the interest of Arsenal is well-documented from his time in Brazil and France before the switch to Newcastle."

Guimaraes is a good option for Arsenal, and considering the club was interested in him heavily prior to his move to the Magpies, returning to that specific well might prove fruitful.

But at this stage of Newcastle's development under Eddie Howe, it is hard to envision the Magpies allowing one of their best players to make the switch to north London, and Howe said as much, stating they wish to keep the midfielder.

While Bruno cost Newcastle just £40m when he signed from Lyon, his new contract with the club sees him have a cool £100m release clause, which, oddly enough, expires on June 30. So, the interested clubs have until then to thrash out a deal. After that, they must negotiate with the Magpies.

Would Arsenal part ways with that kind of money for a player in back-to-back summers (Declan Rice last season)? Possibly.

And considering the Gunners' need to fortify their midfield, Guimaraes does loom as a "standout candidate" for Arteta this summer...if they're willing to pay the asking price.