Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has said the Premier League champions need players of the calibre of Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior to defend their title, as the club closes in on a £75 million move for the Newcastle captain and continues to monitor the Real Madrid winger’s contract situation.
Riccardo Calafiori has said Arsenal need players like Brazilian pair Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior if they are to retain their Premier League title, as the Gunners edge closer to completing a protracted £75 million deal for Newcastle’s captain. Guimaraes is currently waiting for permission to leave Newcastle’s training base in La Manga, Spain, to finalise the formalities of his move to north London. Arsenal are also chasing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, whose contract expires next summer, though that pursuit is expected to prove a tougher battle as Madrid work to keep him.
Calafiori makes the case for reinforcements
Speaking after Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin, Calafiori was asked whether the club needed the addition of players like Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior. Before answering, he turned to a member of Arsenal’s media team and asked: “Is it official yet?” He then said: “We are on that level now. We are on top. We want to win the league again, we want to be even better than last season if we can. We need these kind of players I think.”
Asked specifically about Guimaraes, Calafiori was more guarded, saying: “It’s not official, so I cannot speak about it.” As Premier League champions, Arsenal are approaching this transfer window as one of the most significant in recent years, as they look to defend their title while also competing in the Champions League.
Guimaraes deal set to be finalised
Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022 and has since made more than 100 appearances for the club, captaining the side during the 2025-26 season. He played a key role in helping Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and later win their first major domestic trophy in decades, cementing his reputation as one of the Premier League’s elite central midfielders.
The 28-year-old has made clear his intention to join Arsenal, and has emerged as manager Mikel Arteta’s first-choice target in central midfield. Newcastle and Arsenal have spent this week discussing the finer details of the transfer, with a final agreement now considered a formality. According to reports, Guimaraes told Newcastle earlier in the summer that he wanted to join Arsenal should a suitable offer arrive.
The move reflects Arsenal’s broader recruitment strategy, having prioritised signing an experienced central midfielder following recent departures and injuries in that area of the squad. Arteta reportedly views Guimaraes as a player capable of strengthening the first team immediately. Should the deal go through at the reported £75 million fee, Guimaraes would become one of Arsenal’s most expensive signings, ranking among the largest transfer fees in the club’s history.
Vinicius Junior situation remains unresolved
Arsenal’s interest in Vinicius Junior centres on his contract situation at Real Madrid, which is due to expire at the end of next season. Real Madrid have offered the Brazilian improved terms in excess of £19 million a year in an effort to keep him at the Bernabeu, and Arsenal have made him aware that they are prepared to step in should he fail to reach an agreement with the Spanish club.
Talks between Vinicius’s representatives and Real Madrid officials, including general director Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat, took place in Madrid on Wednesday. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has also stated that the 26-year-old remains firmly part of his plans going forward, and the club is understood to be increasingly confident of retaining him.
Vinicius has won multiple major honours during his time at Real Madrid, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and is regarded as one of the best wingers in world football. He scored the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool and has consistently produced double-figure returns for both goals and assists in recent seasons.
Despite Madrid’s growing confidence over a renewal, Vinicius added a note of uncertainty on Wednesday night by deleting his entire Instagram history. His account, which has 63.9 million followers, now shows no images, no bio and no profile picture. Neither the player nor Real Madrid have offered a public explanation for the change, and there is no confirmed link between his social media activity and the ongoing contract negotiations, though the move has fuelled speculation among supporters online.
Background on Calafiori
Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna after helping the Italian club qualify for the Champions League and impressing for Italy at Euro 2024, performances that significantly raised his profile before his move to the Premier League.
