Bruno Guimaraes bombshell as 'smart' Newcastle United move sets Arsenal & Man City deadline

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has confirmed the £100million release clause in Bruno Guimaraes’ contract expires at the end of June.

The Brazilian continues to be the subject of intense transfer speculation having starred for Newcastle since his £40million switch from Lyon in January 2022. Guimaraes was rewarded with a new five-year contract in October last year but his release clause is causing chatter over his future.

Paris Saint-Germain have been heavily linked with the 26-year-old with his agent Alexis Malavolta making regular trips to Paris, while Manchester City and Arsenal are understood be interested. But Howe wants to keep Guimaraes at St James’ Park, and he believes the deadline is beneficial.

“Having that was well planned and structured by the club, in a sense that there is a finish point,” Howe told reporters. “We don’t want the constant speculation, I don’t think that’s healthy for the player or for us.”

The rumours surrounding Guimaraes are rife, but Howe isn’t losing any sleep over it, despite the situation being out of his control. He said: “When it’s something you don’t necessarily have control over, I don’t tend to worry about. I think it goes without saying what my thoughts on the Bruno situation are.

“We want to keep him, we want to build our team around him and he’s an integral part of what we are doing. His form has been very good. He seems very happy and settled. He will be thinking about a busy summer ahead and where we can hopefully take the team. He is a big part of that. We are not in control of that, so we shall see.”

Howe admits the sale of Guimaraes would help “create a slightly different team” - but that’s not something he wants to do.

The former Bournemouth manager added: “These ‘big names’ are the talk of everything but I don’t know what’s going to happen this summer. I can’t predict the future but whatever happens, we can fight, live again and create a slightly different team.

“That might be what we have to do but it’s certainly not what I want to do. I want to make minimal changes but changes that can transport us forward. We just have to adjust when it happens. “