Eddie Howe issues Bruno Guimaraes update amid 'advanced Manchester United talks' | OneFootball

Influential Magpies skipper is in demand ahead of crucial summer transfer window

Eddie Howe has hit out at “totally disrespectful” reports that Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is in talks over a transfer to Manchester United.

The Magpies’ second-half collapse in their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Barcelona this week has sparked fears that stars like Guimaraes and fellow midfielder Sandro Tonali could be poached this summer, particularly if the club - currently ninth in the Premier League table - fail to secure a return to Europe’s top competition next term.

Guimaraes is understood to have been near a move to the Bernabeu several summers ago, when then-Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti earmarked him as a successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, before Newcastle swooped in to sign him from Lyon in January 2022.

Now, amid reports that Eduardo Camavinga could be leaving the Spanish capital, Madrid are said to be monitoring Guimaraes closely once again, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Ancelotti, who coaches Guimaraes in Brazil’s national team, has reportedly backed his former club to make the move happen this time.

Eddie Howe is keen to avoid ‘distractions’ as Newcastle fight for a return to Europe next season

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However, much as he was forced to do with reports linking Tonali with a move to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, frustrated Newcastle boss Howe has batted away suggestions that Guimaraes could depart St James’ Park this summer.

“I don’t know how to respond, I don’t even think I should - it’s a waste of my energy,” Howe replied when asked about the latest transfer rumours regarding Guimaraes, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for over a month.

“Bruno is our captain and he’s injured. His only focus is coming back to fitness.”

Howe added that rumours of Guimaraes leaving are more “unwanted news” than being “a problem for us”, and said he hopes the stories don’t cause “distractions” in the squad.

“I don’t know how much [players] absorb that, but for me it’s not the time,” he continued.

“In the summer you can sort of understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open, but to say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anybody else. He’s totally committed here.”

Guimaraes signed a contract extension at Newcastle in 2023 that runs until the summer of 2028.