Howe makes telling Guimaraes transfer admission as Arsenal prepare £70m bid

Eddie Howe has admitted that he doesn't know if Newcastle will keep hold of captain Bruno Guimaraes this summer, as speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal gathers pace.

Newcastle have already sold midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, banking around £170million in the process. And now the prospect of losing Guimaraes to the Premier League champions is looking increasingly likely.

The Gunners are ready to test the Magpies' resolve with a £70m bid for the Brazil international. That is reportedly short of their valuation of £80m, but the 28-year-old is keen to leave St James' Park this summer and that could prove to be the deciding factor.

Guimaraes is yet to return to Newcastle as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign, having been given three weeks off after playing for Brazil at the World Cup. But speaking after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Gateshead on Saturday, Howe struck a downbeat tone on the situation.

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"I have spoken to him normally as I would do," the Newcastle boss said. "Bruno is a fantastic person and we had some really good conversations before and during the World Cup and after the World Cup.

"What we speak about has to remain private. He is a great player and a great person."

He added: "Look, I don't know what is going to happen with Bruno's future, that is for other people to speculate about. But also conversations that I'm not part of."

Asked about the plan for his return in pre-season, Howe said: "Yes, I think the plan off the top of my head, I think it's 31st [July].

"I think he's due back, so he gets an extended break because he went further in the competition and he's enjoying a holiday at the moment with his family. There's nothing to say that Bruno won't be back training with us."

Newcastle have signed midfielder Aladji Bamba from Monaco for £34m, which goes some way to replacing Tonali. They have also signed Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure, yet there are familiar frustrations around transfers on Tyneside, with their best players heading for the exit after a 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Asked about a comparison with the £125m sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, Howe said: "I don't think it's fair to compare situations and what happened previously. I think you've got to look at it in its own right. Bruno is the captain of our football club.

"He's been an unbelievable player and person all through the time that we've worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club. We absolutely love him and, of course, everyone would want him to stay."

Arsenal are yet to make a formal approach to Newcastle for Guimaraes and will be met with a rejection if they bid £70m. Guimaraes has made 195 appearances for Newcastle since joining from Lyon in 2022 and still has two years left on his Magpies contract.