Both of these moves may have a knock-on effect for United, as Guimaraes’ arrival could pave the way for Red Devils target Myles Lewis-Skelly to leave in search of regular football. A blockbuster Vinicius Jr signing raises the prospect of a financial sacrifice elsewhere, meaning that the versatile Englishman may suddenly become available.
The Independent claim that the Red Devils have maintained a longstanding interest in the 19-year-old and are ‘investigating’ whether a deal can be struck this summer. There was a possibility of a transfer last season, with the defender-cum-midfielder having fallen out offavour, but he succeeded in working his way back into the first team during the latter stages of the campaign.
Lewis-Skelly is a player that Arsenal would wish to retain, but that stance could shift should they conclude mega-money acquisitions for Vinicius Jr and Guimaraes.
Speaking about Arsenal’s plans for the coming weeks, Gunners boss Arteta said: “Well, we are really active, trying to improve and evolve the team. That’s clear. We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously, because we want to get better like anybody else.
“And you can just see it. The transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing, we won’t sit still. And we are very ambitious in what we want to do.”
He added: “Because the margins are very small. And because we want to get better and the level is going to increase, we need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure we identify the things that we don’t have in the team, to have bigger margins. And that’s the way we have to think.”
Arsenal have already secured three additions this summer, with Christos Tzolis and Ilian Meslier having joined the club, while Piero Hincapie has been signed on a permanent basis.