Arsenal have made their first formal bid to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães, but the offer has been rejected as the two clubs remain apart on the Brazilian midfielder's valuation. The move intensifies pressure on Newcastle, who have already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer, as they weigh whether to part with a key player just as incoming manager Matthias Jaissle begins rebuilding the squad ahead of the new season.

Arsenal value Guimarães at around £70m, the level of their rejected bid, while Newcastle are holding out for closer to £80m for the 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract. Rather than travelling to London for a medical as had been speculated, Guimarães flew to Newcastle's pre-season camp in La Manga, Spain, where he met Jaissle for the first time. Separately, Newcastle completed the £26m signing of Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga, who is expected to replace Nick Pope as first choice.