Eddie Howe admits Bruno Guimaraes future uncertain, wants him to stay
Synopsis
Eddie Howe wants Bruno Guimaraes to stay at Newcastle but openly admits transfer decisions are not his to make — and he cannot promise the captain will be there when the season starts. With the Isak precedent fresh in memory, this is Newcastle's biggest summer question.
Key Takeaways
Eddie Howe refused to guarantee Bruno Guimaraes will remain at Newcastle United ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Howe confirmed regular contact with Guimaraes before, during, and after the FIFA World Cup but kept the content private.
Guimaraes, 28 , is on a post-World Cup break after Brazil exited in the round of 16 ; he is expected back this week for the Spain training camp.
Howe drew a distinction from the Alexander Isak departure, saying there is 'nothing to suggest' Guimaraes will not return to training.
Newcastle have signed Ewen Jaouen , Bazoumana Toure , Sean Steur , and Aladji Bamba during the pre-season window.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has declined to offer any guarantees over the future of club captain Bruno Guimaraes, acknowledging that transfer decisions rest outside his control while making clear the club is desperate to keep the Brazilian midfielder. Howe's comments came after Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Gateshead in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 25 July.
What Howe Said
The Newcastle manager confirmed he has maintained regular dialogue with Guimaraes across the past several weeks, spanning the period before, during, and after the FIFA World Cup. However, he was careful not to reveal the substance of those discussions.
'I've had some really good conversations with him before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup. What we speak about has to remain private, but he's just a great player and a great person,' Howe said.
When pressed on whether he was confident Guimaraes would remain at St James' Park, Howe was candid. 'I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future. Those are conversations that I'm not involved in, so there's no point speculating,' he added.
Guimaraes' Status and Expected Return
The 28-year-old is currently on a post-tournament break after Brazil were eliminated in the round of 16. He is expected to rejoin the Newcastle squad later this week before the team departs for a pre-season training camp in Spain.
Howe was at pains to distinguish the situation from that of Alexander Isak, who departed last summer following prolonged transfer speculation. 'Bruno is our captain. Since arriving at this football club, he has been outstanding both on and off the pitch. Everyone here values what he brings, and naturally we'd all like him to remain with us. At the moment, there's nothing to suggest he won't be back training,' Howe said.
Guimaraes' Importance to Newcastle
Guimaraes has been one of the defining signings of Newcastle's modern era since joining from Lyon in January 2022. His influence has helped the club cement a position among the Premier League's top sides, and his performances this season attracted reported interest from several leading European clubs during the current transfer window.
Notably, this is the second successive summer in which a key Newcastle asset has been the subject of sustained transfer speculation — a pattern that underlines the growing tension between the club's ambitions and the commercial pull of elite European competition.
Newcastle's Pre-Season Additions
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their captain, Newcastle have moved to bolster their ranks ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The club have brought in goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, winger Bazoumana Toure, midfielder Sean Steur, and youngster Aladji Bamba as Howe looks to assemble a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts.
Whether Guimaraes features in those plans beyond the pre-season remains the defining question of Newcastle's summer.
Point of View
'those are conversations I'm not involved in' — is the language of a manager who has been here before. Newcastle lost Isak last summer despite months of similar reassurances, and the pattern is repeating. The club's inability to offer a definitive answer by late July, when pre-season is already underway, suggests the boardroom conversations are live. Guimaraes is not merely a key player; he is the identity of this Newcastle project. Losing him would test whether the squad-building around him has genuine depth or was always dependent on one engine.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bruno Guimaraes leaving Newcastle United?
No confirmed departure has been announced. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said on 25 July 2026 that he does not know what will happen with Guimaraes' future, adding that transfer decisions are outside his control. The captain is expected to return to training this week.
What did Eddie Howe say about Bruno Guimaraes?
Howe said the club would 'love' Guimaraes to stay and described him as 'a great player and a great person.' He confirmed regular conversations with the midfielder but declined to reveal their content, and said there is 'nothing to suggest he won't be back training.'
When will Bruno Guimaraes return to Newcastle?
Guimaraes is expected to rejoin the Newcastle squad later in the week of 25 July 2026, following a post-World Cup break after Brazil's round-of-16 exit. He is then due to travel with the team for their pre-season camp in Spain.
Which clubs are interested in signing Bruno Guimaraes?
Reports indicate that several leading European clubs have shown interest in Guimaraes during the current transfer window, though no specific clubs have been confirmed. Newcastle have not publicly acknowledged any bids.
Who has Newcastle signed in the 2026 pre-season window?
Newcastle have added goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, winger Bazoumana Toure, midfielder Sean Steur, and youngster Aladji Bamba ahead of the 2026-27 campaign as Eddie Howe seeks greater squad depth across multiple competitions.
