Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has admitted he cannot guarantee that captain Bruno Guimaraes will remain at the club as speculation continues to link the Brazilian midfielder with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal.
Speaking after Newcastle’s pre-season draw against Gateshead, Howe revealed he had held several positive discussions with Guimaraes before, during and after the FIFA World Cup. However, he acknowledged that transfer decisions are not entirely in his hands and said he was unable to confirm whether the midfielder would still be part of the squad when the new season begins.
The Newcastle boss stressed that Guimaraes remains a hugely important player and leader within the team, describing him as someone the club would like to keep. Despite ongoing rumours, Howe said he hopes the Brazilian will continue to play a key role for the Magpies in the upcoming campaign.
Newcastle have already seen several key departures during the summer transfer window, including Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Losing Guimaraes would represent another major setback as Howe looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Magpies finished 12th in the league last season and will begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign at home against Liverpool on 23 August. Guimaraes’ future is expected to remain one of the club’s biggest talking points until the transfer window closes.
