Eddie Howe has broken his silence on Bruno Guimaraes' future at Newcastle United, admitting he remains in the dark about whether the club captain will depart for Arsenal. The Newcastle manager spoke candidly following a 1-1 pre-season draw with Gateshead, describing the current transfer window as "painful" after already losing two key players this summer.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Howe revealed limited involvement in negotiations surrounding the Brazilian midfielder. "I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. That's for other people to speculate about, but also conversations that I'm not part of," he explained. Despite the persistent speculation linking Guimaraes with a Gunners move, the Newcastle boss emphasised maintaining a strong personal rapport with his skipper. "We've had some really good conversations, before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup. What we speak about obviously has to remain private, but just a great player, a great person."
A Damaging Window for the Magpies
The uncertainty surrounding Guimaraes compounds what has been a torrid transfer campaign for Newcastle. The club have already lost Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, following Alexander Isak's September move to Liverpool. This represents a significant depletion of squad depth heading into the new season. Howe did little to mask his frustration with the departures. "We don't want to lose our best players. That's an obvious statement to make. So, losing those big two is painful for us, and difficult," he said, referencing Tonali and Gordon specifically.
Arsenal are expected to lodge a formal bid for Guimaraes in coming weeks, with negotiations around the transfer fee currently proving a substantial obstacle. The Gunners have identified the 26-year-old midfielder as a priority target, though Newcastle's valuation may exceed their opening offer. Howe acknowledged the broader challenge of balancing short and long-term ambitions. "For me, it's been another challenging summer so far, but we're always trying to do our best for the football club, short and long-term, and try and get the squad in its best shape."
As pre-season preparations intensify, Howe faces the dual task of rebuilding squad morale while potentially preparing for life without one of the Premier League's most talented midfielders. The outcome of Arsenal's interest will shape Newcastle's recruitment strategy significantly.
