Newcastle United’s summer has already placed manager Eddie Howe in one of the toughest positions of his time at St. James’ Park, with the last pillar remaining in Tyneside now set to follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of the club.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal has agreed personal terms with Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazil international pushing for a move to north London after the World Cup.
“Bruno Guimaraes has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with Arsenal as the Gunners now look to agree on a fee for the wantaway Newcastle star,“ The Mirror reported.
Former Tottenham and Sunderland striker Darren Bent believes that Newcastle’s bigger concern may soon become Howe’s own future if the club does not give him enough help after selling major players.
Bent argued that Howe has already shown what he can do by ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy wait with the 2025 League Cup win, but the club must now support him properly.
“At some point, you need to help him financially to be able to get it over the line like he did with the League Cup,” Bent said.
Gordon has joined Barcelona for £70 million, roughly €81 million, while Tonali has moved to Tottenham in a package worth £100 million, roughly €116 million. Bruno seems to be next, with Arsenal reportedly preparing an offer of around £60 million, roughly €70 million, despite Newcastle’s public stance that he is not for sale.
Bent suggested Howe could eventually decide the job has become impossible.
“He might just go, ‘Do you know what? Enough. There’s no more I could do with this football club, enough’s enough,’” Bent said.
For now, Newcastle has made up for the exits by signing prospects Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur, while a supposedly done deal for Johan Manzambi got hijacked at the last minute, as is usually the case in Tyneside. None of those three incoming players, however, projects to arrive with even half the talent of the two (and potentially three) players gone from last season’s XI.