Arsenal to sign a center-back to replace Saliba before pursuing Bruno Guimaraes

While the buzz around Arsenal's pursuit of Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães is grabbing widespread attention, the club is said to be on the verge of completing another transfer even earlier.

This move is part of the Emirates outfit's urgent plan to address their defensive personnel issues following William Saliba's injury.

The information was revealed by ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade. During a live TV broadcast, he stated that Arsenal is very close to finalizing an agreement to sign a new central defender.

Although he could not disclose the player's identity, Andrade confirmed that this deal has progressed significantly further than Arsenal's negotiations with Newcastle for Bruno Guimarães. In his assessment, the Brazilian midfielder's transfer could be completed by the end of the week, but the center-back signing is even more advanced.

"I don't have the player's name yet, so I can't call this an exclusive," Andrade shared. "However, from sources involved in the Bruno Guimarães deal, I've learned that Arsenal is very close to signing a center-back to address the issue caused by Saliba's injury."

The Brazilian journalist emphasized further: "They haven't provided me with the specific identity yet. I'm trying to verify it to assist my colleagues in England, but this deal will happen faster than the Bruno Guimarães one. Everything is very close to completion."

Bruno Andrade is currently based in Portugal and is well-known for transfer news related to the Portuguese league. As a result, many speculate that the center-back Arsenal is pursuing might be playing in the Primeira Liga, though no official confirmation has been made.

Coincidentally, in recent days, Arsenal has been linked with several prominent center-backs from Portuguese football. The most notable name is Sporting CP's Zeno Debast. The Belgian defender has surprisingly emerged as a potential target for the Gunners after an impressive first season in Lisbon since moving from Anderlecht.

Debast is highly regarded for his calm ball-handling, ability to build play from the back, and skill in breaking through opposition pressing lines. These qualities align well with the football philosophy manager Mikel Arteta is building at Arsenal.

Additionally, two other defenders frequently mentioned are Sporting's Gonçalo Inácio and Benfica's Tomás Araújo. Both are among the top young talents in Portuguese football and have often been on the radar of Premier League clubs in recent years. Experts also believe that now is an opportune time for Sporting and Benfica to consider selling their stars.

Given that Saliba has become one of the most crucial pillars of Arsenal's defense, finding a replacement—even a short-term one—is no simple task. The London club needs a center-back of sufficient quality to immediately adapt to the demanding environment of the Premier League.

This significantly narrows the list of potential candidates. In terms of professional ability, playing experience, and market value, Debast, Inácio, and Araújo are considered the most suitable options for Arsenal's current requirements.

However, all of this remains speculation for now. The most notable point at this moment is Bruno Andrade's assertion: Arsenal is very close to securing a new center-back, and the speed of completing this deal is said to be even faster than the high-profile negotiations for Bruno Guimarães.