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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has admitted there is uncertainty over club captain Bruno Guimaraes’ future amid increasing transfer interest from Arsenal. After key exits already in this window, the head coach spoke openly about the difficulty of holding on to top players while also getting the squad ready for the new season, describing the present spell as “painful”.

Guimaraes’ future remains uncertain

Talk around Guimaraes and a possible exit from St James’ Park has grown stronger. Arsenal are increasing their interest in the Brazilian midfielder, though agreeing a transfer fee is still a major obstacle at this stage.

After Newcastle’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Gateshead on Saturday, Howe responded to the ongoing speculation. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Newcastle boss said he had no clear idea about the situation. “I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. That's for other people to speculate about, but also conversations that I'm not part of,” he said.

Private talks with the captain

Even with the continuing links between Guimaraes and Arsenal, Howe says he has a strong personal bond with the Brazil international.

“We've had some really good conversations, before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup,” Howe stated. “What we speak about obviously has to remain private, but just a great player, a great person.”

Dealing with painful departures

The uncertainty around Guimaraes adds to what has already been a very tough transfer window for Newcastle. After Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool last September, the club have already seen Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon join Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona this summer, respectively.

Speaking about the heavy effect of losing such important first-team players, Howe did not conceal his frustration. “We don't want to lose our best players. That's an obvious statement to make. So, losing those big two is painful for us, and difficult,” Howe said. “For me, it's been another challenging summer so far, but we're always trying to do our best for the football club, short and long-term, and try and get the squad in its best shape.”

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What comes next for Newcastle?

Arsenal are expected to put forward a concrete offer for Guimaraes in the coming weeks to test Newcastle's resolve. In the meantime, Howe and his coaching staff must quickly turn their focus back to the squad as pre-season preparations gather pace.