Newcastle reject Arsenal bids as Eddie Howe hopes Bruno Guimaraes stays
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hopes midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will remain at St James’ Park this summer despite intense transfer interest and rejected bids from Arsenal.
The Gunners have been actively pursuing the Brazilian international, but the Tyneside club maintain their star player is not for sale.
Despite rejecting multiple offers from the North London side, talks between the two Premier League rivals remain ongoing.
It is understood the coveted playmaker is keen on completing a move to the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window closes.
‘No assurances’ over Brazilian’s future
Speaking after a heavy 4-1 pre-season defeat by Bristol City on Wednesday, the Magpies boss admitted he had received no guarantees regarding his midfielder’s future.
Howe stated that while he remains in constant contact with the player, pushing for absolute certainty is difficult.
“We’ve spoken numerous times. Assurances, I don’t think you can push too hard for those,” Howe explained.
“I’ve said many times you want players who are committed. Bruno has always been committed here.”
“Every time he’s worn the shirt, he’s played with the fans by his side. I’d love to see that continue.”
Mounting pressure at St James’ Park
The ongoing uncertainty adds to a challenging summer for Newcastle, who staggered to a disappointing 12th-place finish last season.
Their pre-season campaign has started poorly, with the defeat at Ashton Gate following a lacklustre draw against non-league Gateshead.
The North East club have already lost key personnel this window following the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
Losing another fan-favourite would further increase the scrutiny on the current managerial regime from the Geordie faithful.
Arsenal push for squad evolution
Howe recently dubbed the 26-year-old a fantastic person, though he admitted he is not directly involved in boardroom talks regarding the transfer.
Guimaraes is scheduled to report back for pre-season training on Friday amid the swirling speculation.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to press forward in their pursuit of the highly-rated technician.
The Spanish head coach confirmed this week that he wants his squad to evolve over the summer by bringing in superior individual talent.