Eddie Howe has held “really good conversations” with Bruno Guimaraes but admits he cannot guarantee the Newcastle captain’s future, after Arsenal set their sights on a £70m move for the Brazil midfielder.
The Gunners, Premier League champions last season, are preparing an offer that would test Newcastle’s resolve to keep their talisman. Guimaraes is understood to be keen on the switch, and sources say personal terms would not be an obstacle. Yet Newcastle insist they have no intention of selling and have received no formal approach.
“Arsenal prepare £70m bid for Bruno Guimaraes; Howe admits uncertainty over captain's future amid Newcastle's refusal to sell.”
“I’ve had some really good conversations with him before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup,” Howe said after Saturday’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Gateshead. “What we speak about has to remain private, but he’s just a great player, a great person. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to speculate about. They are conversations that I’m not part of.”
The 28-year-old has been on holiday with his family following Brazil’s last-16 World Cup exit to Norway. He is due back at Newcastle on Friday and will join the squad’s training camp in Spain.
The standoff echoes last summer’s pursuit of Alexander Isak by Liverpool, which ended with the striker pushing to leave. “You’ve got to look at it in its own right,” Howe said. “Bruno is the captain of our football club. He’s been an unbelievable player and person. … Everyone will want him to stay.”
Newcastle’s midfield has already been weakened by Sandro Tonali’s £100m move to Tottenham this month. In response, the club signed 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax for up to £23m and Aladji Bamba from Monaco. Steur played 90 minutes against Gateshead, drawing praise from Howe: “He played really well today. He can be really pleased with his performance and first showing in Newcastle colours.”
Willem Weijs, who coached Steur at Jong Ajax, described him as “one of the highest-rated” players in the Dutch club’s academy. But the youngster will need time to adapt to the Premier League’s physicality.
Arsenal, meanwhile, remain active elsewhere. They have signed Greece forward Christos Tzolis for £34m and are exploring moves for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, and Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. But the Guimaraes pursuit dominates, raising the question: will Newcastle’s resistance hold, or will history repeat itself?