Howe unsure if Arsenal target Guimaraes will stay at Newcastle

LONDON: Eddie Howe says he cannot predict whether Bruno Guimaraes will remain at Newcastle United as Arsenal's interest in the Brazil midfielder clouds the club's pre-season build-up.

The Newcastle manager spoke after a 1-1 friendly draw at Gateshead, where he made clear the club wants to keep the 28-year-old. Howe said, "We don't want to lose our best players," adding that he had been in touch with Guimaraes before, during and after the World Cup.

He also acknowledged the uncertainty around the player's next move, saying, "I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. That's for other people to, one, speculate about, but also conversations that I'm not part of."

Guimaraes is reportedly the subject of a £70 million ($93 million) offer from Premier League champions Arsenal. The midfielder is on holiday after Brazil's World Cup last-16 defeat to Norway earlier this month and is due back on Friday before Newcastle head to Spain for a pre-season training camp.

Howe said there was no indication yet that Guimaraes would fail to report back. "There's nothing to say Bruno won't be back training with us. You've got to look at it in its own right," he said.

Newcastle's manager underlined Guimaraes' standing inside the squad, calling him "the captain of our football club" and praising both his performances and character. Howe said everyone at the club would want him to remain at St James' Park.

The situation comes a year after Newcastle lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool following a drawn-out transfer saga. Isak refused to take part in pre-season preparations before completing his move to Anfield.

Arsenal's push for Guimaraes follows their decision not to match Chelsea's British-record £117 million move for England forward Morgan Rogers. Newcastle, who finished 12th last season, open their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on August 23.