Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has publicly addressed intense speculation linking star midfielder and captain Bruno Guimaraes with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal, asserting the club’s desire to retain its key players.
Reports emerged this week from the Shields Gazette suggesting that the 28-year-old Brazilian international had agreed to join Arsenal, who recently secured their first Premier League title since 2004. However, sources within Newcastle United have firmly denied these claims, insisting Guimaraes is not for sale and that no fresh approach has been made by Arsenal.
Speaking after a 1-1 pre-season draw at Gateshead, Howe conveyed the club’s stance on player retention. “We don’t want to lose our best players. That’s an obvious statement to make,” Howe told the Shields Gazette. “Losing those big two is painful for us and difficult. For me, it’s been another challenging summer so far.”
Arsenal is understood to be keen on acquiring Guimaraes, with reports indicating a willingness to offer £70 million for his services. However, Newcastle United values their influential midfielder significantly higher, reportedly at £100 million. This valuation aligns with Newcastle’s recent track record of securing substantial fees for their top talents:
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Alexander Isak for £125 million last summer
Sandro Tonali for £100 million to Tottenham Hotspur this summer
Anthony Gordon for £80 million to Barcelona this summer
Guimaraes is currently on holiday following his participation in the World Cup with Brazil. Howe expects him to return to Newcastle for training at the end of July, specifically July 31st. The manager confirmed he has been in contact with his captain.
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“Yes, I’ve spoken to him as I would do,” Howe stated. “Bruno, normally, is just a fantastic person. We’ve had some really good conversations, both before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup. What we speak about obviously has to remain private. He’s just a great player and a great person.”
Despite the ongoing discussions, Howe maintained a degree of public detachment regarding the transfer saga. “Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to, one, speculate about, but also conversations that I’m not part of,” he added, as reported by the Shields Gazette. “There’s nothing to say that Bruno won’t be back training with us.”
Arsenal’s interest comes as they aim to strengthen a squad that not only won the Premier League but also reached the Champions League final this season, ultimately losing to PSG. Their pursuit of Guimaraes signals a continued ambition to compete at the highest level, while Newcastle remains resolute in its valuation and desire to keep its prized asset.
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