Eddie Howe has failed to ignite confidence that Newcastle will be able to keep hold of captain Bruno Guimaraes this summer amid intense interest from Arsenal.
The Premier League champions are reportedly loading up £70m offer for the Brazil international, who is yet to join up with the Newcastle squad after featuring at the World Cup.
Howe was asked about Guimaraes’ future after their 1-1 pre-season friendly draw with Gateshead on Saturday, revealing he has been in contact with the midfielder but remains unsure of where he will be come the end of August.
“I’ve spoken to him as I would do with Bruno normally,” Howe said. “He is a fantastic person and we have had some really good conversations both before, during and after the World Cup. What we speak about obviously has to remain private but he is a great player and a great person.
“Look, I don’t know what is going to happen with Bruno. That is up to other people to speculate about but also other people to have conversations about which I’m not a part of.
Off the back of a disappointing World Cup last-16 exit to Norway, Guimaraes will join Newcastle’s pre-season camp in Spain on Friday with the player currently on holiday with his family.
There have been fears that the midfielder may cause a repeat of the transfer saga that surrounded Alexander Isak last summer, who went on strike to force a move to Liverpool.
Howe has shut down these comparisons, however, and expects Guimaraes to train as normal despite wishing to move on.
“I don’t think it is fair to compare situations and what happened previously. You’ve got to look at this in its own right,” he added.
“Bruno is captain of our football club. He has been an unbelievable player and person all the time we have worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club when I say we absolutely love him and of course everyone wants him to stay.
“The plan is for him to come back on July 31, he gets an extended break because of the World Cup and is currently enjoying a holiday with his family… There is nothing to say that Bruno won’t be back training with us.”