Howe unsure over Guimaraes amid Arsenal interest

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has said his recent talks with captain Bruno Guimaraes have been positive, while stopping short of assuring supporters that the midfielder will remain at the club. The comments came after Newcastle’s 1-1 pre-season friendly draw with Gateshead on Saturday, amid BBC reporting that Arsenal are preparing a £70m bid for the Brazil international.

Howe said he had spoken with Guimaraes before, during and after the World Cup period referenced in the report, but described the details as private and said speculation over the player’s future was outside his role. Newcastle are said to be reluctant to lose a player Howe views as central to the squad. Guimaraes, who signed for Newcastle in 2022 and now captains the side, is expected back from holiday on Friday before the team travels to Spain for a training camp.

The uncertainty comes during a broader reshaping of Newcastle’s midfield. BBC Sport says Sandro Tonali has joined Tottenham in a deal worth up to £100m, while young midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba have arrived from Ajax and Monaco. Steur played the full match against Gateshead, with Howe praising his first appearance for the club.

The report notes Newcastle have increasingly targeted younger, Europe-based players this summer, including Steur, Bamba, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure. That strategy may require patience, making Guimaraes’ future especially important as Howe tries to maintain experience and leadership in a squad that has already lost several senior figures.