Howe refuses to guarantee Guimaraes future as Arsenal ready £70m bid

Eddie Howe has admitted he cannot guarantee Bruno Guimaraes will remain at Newcastle United, with Arsenal preparing a £70m offer for the Brazil midfielder. The Newcastle head coach revealed he has held positive talks with his captain before, during and after the World Cup, but insisted discussions over a potential departure are out of his hands. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future,” Howe said after Saturday’s 1-1 pre-season friendly draw against Gateshead. “What we speak about has to remain private, but he’s just a great player, a great person.” Guimaraes, who has been on holiday with his family following Brazil’s last-16 World Cup exit to Norway, is due back at Newcastle on Friday. He will then fly to Spain for a pre-season training camp. Howe drew comparisons with last summer’s pursuit of Alexander Isak by Liverpool, which ended with the striker forcing a move away. “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… I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club. We absolutely love him and, of course, 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 a fee that could rise to £23m, and Aladji Bamba from Monaco. Steur played the full 90 minutes against Gateshead, impressing Howe. “He played really well today,” Howe said. “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 their academy. But the teenager will need time to adapt to the Premier League’s physicality. Elsewhere, Liverpool are plotting a huge bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola after a £145m transfer update with terms reportedly agreed, according to the Standard. Arsenal are also understood to be in the battle for the France international, though no formal offer has yet been made.