Newcastle boss Howe reveals the club is keen to retain Guimarães in the Premier League

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Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has reiterated the club’s desire to keep captain Bruno Guimarães amid growing speculation linking the Brazil midfielder with a move to Arsenal.

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Reports this week claimed Arsenal are preparing a £70 million bid for the 28-year-old, but Newcastle remain determined to hold on to one of their key players.

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Speaking after Newcastle’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Gateshead on Saturday, Howe revealed he has held several positive conversations with Guimarães but admitted he could not guarantee what the future holds.

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As reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, Howe was quoted as saying, “You’ve got to look at it in its own right,” he said.

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“Bruno is the captain of our football club. He’s been an unbelievable player and person all through the time we have worked together.”

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Howe made clear Newcastle’s position remains unchanged.

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“I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club. We absolutely love him and, of course, everyone will want him to stay.”

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“I’ve had some really good conversations with him before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup.

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“What we speak about has to remain private, but he’s just a great player, a great person,” Howe averred.

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The Newcastle manager said he was not directly involved in discussions over the midfielder’s future.

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“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to speculate about. They are conversations that I’m not part of,” he added.

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Guimarães has been on holiday with his family following Brazil’s last-16 exit from the World Cup and is expected to return to Newcastle on Friday before joining the squad for a pre-season training camp in Spain.

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Despite comparisons with Alexander Isak’s departure from the club last summer, Howe said there was no indication Guimarães would not return for pre-season.

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