Newcastle United are reportedly putting plans in place for a future without Bruno Guimaraes and are believed to be moving forward with efforts to find a suitable replacement for their captain.

Guimaraes has been strongly linked with a potential transfer to Premier League champions Arsenal. Reports last week suggested that the Gunners were mistakenly led to believe the Brazilian midfielder could be available for a cut-price fee of £50 million.

It is understood that Arsenal remain keen on securing the signature of the 28-year-old, and Newcastle are unlikely to ‘stand in his way’ should their full valuation be met as the North London club continues its pursuit.

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle have set their sights on Swedish international Hugo Larsson, aged 22, who has spent the past three seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

“Arsenal’s chase for Bruno Guimaraes might have received a boost as Newcastle United are actively working to replace him with Hugo Larsson,” journalist Mark Brus reported.

Brus added, “Sources close to the agents’ network have told me that Newcastle are ‘intensifying’ their interest in Larsson as they aim to strengthen their midfield options this summer.”

He continued, “There is an acknowledgement that Guimaraes is likely to move on, and the club are eager to have a replacement ready in advance.”

Brus also noted that Newcastle could face competition from Manchester United, who are reportedly interested in adding Larsson to their midfield unit alongside new recruits Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

Larsson has made 87 appearances in the Bundesliga and still has three years remaining on his current contract, which does not include a release clause.

Eintracht Frankfurt are said to value the midfielder at around €60 million and are under no pressure to sell below that figure. However, that valuation may have softened somewhat following a less impressive campaign and Larsson’s omission from Sweden’s World Cup squad.

Reports suggest the German club could now be open to offers closer to €40 million, potentially linking Larsson’s future directly with that of Guimaraes.

Arsenal are aiming to bring in the Newcastle captain to bolster their midfield as they prepare to defend the Premier League title in the 2026–27 season. Newcastle’s ability to secure a cost-effective and capable replacement could help facilitate the deal.

The club’s leadership will also be cautious to avoid a repeat of the complications surrounding Alexander Isak’s transfer to Liverpool last summer, which strained relations and was finalised late in the window after prolonged negotiations.

Newcastle have already completed the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali in the current transfer window, bringing in significant funds and allowing them to focus early on replacements.

Midfielder Sean Steur has joined from Ajax, while the Magpies also succeeded in signing winger Bazoumana Traore from Hoffenheim.

If Guimaraes departs, there will be a clear need for reinforcements in midfield, with Larsson emerging as the leading candidate to fill that gap.

“Larsson is a player profile they are genuinely excited about, so it’s definitely one to watch,” a Caught Offside source said.