Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe responds to 'prolonged' wave from £100m Arsenal transfer target

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said that he 'hoped' midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was not waving goodbye to Magpies supporters after victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Brazil international was one of the Newcastle United players who looked particularly impressive as the season came to an end in west London, grabbing his side's fourth goal with 15 minutes to play. The 26-year-old was alert to pounce after Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken could only palm a free-kick into the six-yard box.

Guimaraes, who arrived at Newcastle United in 2022 for £40 million, has been the centre of transfer talk ahead of the summer window. The Magpies man signed a new five-year deal with the club in October but Howe has already revealed that there is a £100 million release clause that could tempt potential suitors.

Premier League champions Manchester City and French giants PSG have been linked with interest, while this week football.london reported that it remains Arsenal who are frontrunners to land a deal for the midfielder.

After the match against Brentford, Guimaraes took centre stage as his teammates applauded travelling supporters, some suggesting the emotion behind the exchange could point to a potential exit.

Watch - The Premier League Panel: Can the mid-table teams succeed next season?

Asked if that ‘prolong wave’ was cause for concern after the match, Howe said: "I don't think it's a wave goodbye, I think Bruno probably does that many times but it can be interpreted in a way if the people watching decide that to be case. Certainly from my side, I hope it’s not. He is integral to what we are doing, an inspirational player and desperate to keep him.”

When quizzed further about the importance of keeping his key players this summer, Howe said: "It's important, it really is. Good players are very difficult to find and bring into any football club because there is such a high premium for them now.

"I think a lot of players we have brought in haven't been ready-made to hit the ground running and there's been a process to get them to that level that they are now. We need time and I'm sure that's time you won't let me have. There's pressure every moment to keep improving and keep growing. That’s why it’s important to keep our best players.”