Bruno Guimaraes update as Newcastle United's star agent spotted at Champions League club

Eddie Howe wants to keep Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak at Newcastle United for the long-term - but admits that will be dependent on the club’s ambitions.

The Magpies qualified for the Champions League last season but could miss out on Europe altogether 12 months on as they currently sit eighth in the Premier League table. As it stands, United are battling a number of teams for sixth and seventh place.

The uncertainity securing a European spot and pressure to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) has led to speculation over the likes of Guimaraes and Isak’s futures.

In midweek, Guimaraes’ agent Alexis Malavolta attended Paris Saint-Germain versus Rennes. The Brazilian has been linked with the French giants since the turn of the year.

Meanwhile, Isak is admired by several clubs, with Arsenal being the most prominent link, but Howe doesn’t want to lose either player.

On Bruno, Howe said: “Let me tell you, players like Bruno, they are not around every corner, they are very very rare. Bruno should be appreciated for everything he brings.

“My intention would be to keep Bruno at the football club for as long as we possibly can but I can never make guarantees though because that would be absolutely foolish of me.

“I’ve been in football long enough to know you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. But he’s an integral part of our team and playing really well at the moment.”

And when asked if he feared fending off approaches for the in-form Isak, Howe replied: “I don't fear that. In some senses, that's what you want because it means your players are playing at a level that everyone appreciates and I want my players, all of them, to be playing above what they think they're capable of being.

 “So no, I don't think fear is the right word. I want Alex to keep scoring goals, I want him to keep being in the headlines – I'm sure he wants the same thing – but we want to keep him long-term.”

Will qualifying for Europe this season strengthens United’s case to keep the pair?

Howe said: “I think it would help to a degree but I don’t think it’ll be a defining factor. That’s always, to a degree, in the player and club’s hands. But Europe would certainly help.

“A lot will depend on our ambitions and where the club is going to go in the foreseeable future. I don’t think one season necessarily dictates that, but I think it’s the general feeling of where the club is going. 

Do they need convinced to stay? “No I’m not saying that,” Howe said. “I’m saying we need to as a football club continue to push forward, which I know is the intention of everybody but you set your ambitions, not just in terms of talking but in actions so we need to show to them we’re a club moving forward.”