Eddie Howe has said discussing transfer rumours around Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is a ‘waste of energy’.
Guimaraes has been in the headlines this week with reports thatManchester United and Real Madrid are keen to sign the midfielder.
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Reuters have claimed that Manchester United have held exploratory talks with the player’s representatives over a potential £69m deal.
The 28-year-old has been a pivotal part of Newcastle’s rise under Howe and captained the club to a drought-breaking major trophy success last season, as the Magpies won the Carabao Cup.
Several sides are rumoured to be interested in Guimaraes, as Newcastle face the prospect of missing out onChampions League qualification. The Magpies are currently ninth in the Premier League table. He is one of a number of Newcastle names linked with a summer transfer, alongside Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Tyne-Wear Derby against Sunderland, Howe said Guimaraes is ‘totally committed’ to the club and rubbished reports of a desire to leave.
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“I don’t know how to respond, it’s a waste of energy,” he said at hispre-match press conference.
“It’s unwanted news. You don’t want your players distracted. I don’t know how much they’ll absorb that. He’s totally committed here”
Howe confirmed that Guimaraes will miss this weekend’s clash with Sunderland, while Sandro Tonali is also a doubt. Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar have also been ruled out, as Newcastle target a first league win over Sunderland since 2011.
“We’ll wait and see [on Tonali’s fitness],” he said.
“Hopefully it is not as bad as I first feared when I saw him limping off the pitch. We will see how he is today and make a decision closer to the game.”
“We anticipate he [Lewis Miley] will be back hopefully after the international break. Fingers crossed same for Bruno [Guimaraes] and Fabian [Schar].”
