It is about time Arsenal pushed forward and neared a total agreement for the transfer of Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes.

After missing out on Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117million ($157m), there is a feeling that the club must get a move on with their incoming summer transfer business.

Arsenal are the Premier League champions, but that title alone will not earn them any points when the campaign kicks off on August 21 at home against Coventry City.

Seasons that follow international tournaments are never easy to navigate. That, alongside a truncated pre-season, could complicate matters for them more than most, with less clarity and more staggered returns from midfielders in pre-season.

Arsenal were unable to retain the title after their three previous triumphs in the 34-year Premier League era.

Adding a personality and player such as Guimaraes could help add another sense of drive to this team as they try to do just that.

Teenager Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England’s preparation squad for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month.

Boss Lydia Bedford has called up the North Carolina Courage midfielder, 18, as part of a 24-player squad for a warm weather training camp in Portugal next week.

They will have a final opportunity to impress when they face their hosts in a friendly on Thursday, 13 August. Three players will get trimmed for the World Cup squad, which is due to be announced on Thursday, 20 August.

Parkinson was part of Sarina Wiegman’s senior set-up for the games against Spain and Iceland in April and has also featured for the under-23 side.

She is joined in the under-20 group by Arsenal pair Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, as well as Eva Hendle, who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea this week.

This is the fourth training camp over the summer, with Bedford’s side having beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA and lost to Japan so far.

It will be England’s first appearance at an Under-20 Women’s World Cup since 2018 and they have been drawn in a group featuring Brazil, Tanzania and Canada.

They will begin their campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September.

“We’ve had a really positive summer with some strong performances against top-quality opposition,” Bedford said. “The players have embraced every challenge and I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made.

“With the World Cup squad announcement just around the corner, it’s an important opportunity for the players to show what they can do.”

Crystal Palace are set to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer following a successful trial and are considering a move for winger Solly March.

BBC Sport reported last week that Palace and defender Tomiyasu were in talks over a permanent contract that would see the Japan international return to the Premier League.

And Palace are understood to be pressing ahead with Tomiyasu’s signing ahead of the new season.

A broad agreement on terms had been in place, with Palace head coach Pierre Sage tasked with deciding whether to sign the versatile 27-year-old defender.

The Eagles are also contemplating a move for March, who left Brighton at the end of last season.

March, 32, has been recommended to Palace with the potential deal discussed internally at Selhurst Park.

Sage is set to play with three central defenders next season and it is understood Tomiyasu is viewed as a potential option to play on the left side of the trio.

Tomiyasu’s recent career has been plagued by knee issues and while Palace are convinced of the former Arsenal’s man ability, the club want to be sure with regards to his fitness.

Upon leaving the Gunners by mutual consent last season, Tomiyasu joined Ajax where he made eight appearances for the Dutch side towards the end of the campaign before making three appearances – including two starts – for Japan at the World Cup.

Palace want to strengthen their defensive options this summer with first-choice central defender Maxence Lacroix having joined Chelsea.

Palace have an interest in a possible loan deal for Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong but as yet there are no indications that the Stamford Bridge club are prepared to sanction the 20-year-old’s exit.

BBC Sport reported last week that Palace also hold a strong interest in Brest centre-back Raphael Le Guen.