HOWE: MY TOP TOON ACES NOT FOR SALE
ALEXANDER ISAK and Bruno Guimaraes WILL be Newcastle players next season – after Eddie Howe dismissed £200million transfer rumours.
Isak, who has scored 20 top-flight goals this season, is Arsenal’s top target and rated at £120m.
Guimaraes has a £100m release clause that goes live in June for a month and only a handful of clubs could afford him including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
But Howe (right) says it would set his side back into rebuild mode if they lost either and he is planning for both being integral to the Toon next term.
“All my planning is with them in the squad,” said the Newcastle boss ahead of today’s home clash against Brighton.
“We don’t want to sell our best players. That is hugely important for us, it will knock us back some considerable distance because we would have to start again.
“There is no weakness in the club to say we are going to sell anyone. There is no desire from anyone to sell our best players.”
Asked if Isak (top, with Guimaraes) could have his head turned in the summer, Howe said: “Judging by Alex’s performances and training and just how he is day to day, I don’t see him thinking about those things.
“It’s business as usual. When you’re in the position that he’s in and he’s scoring goals, you get used to people talking about you and possibly creating rumours that are true, aren’t true, I’ve got no idea.
“We’re just focusing on our future with Alex. We’re focusing on trying to build our team with him in it.
“He’s going to be an integral part of our future.” Isak’s camp will seek talks over a new deal which pays him as much as Champions League clubs would, but Howe added: “The beauty of the structure of football clubs now is that it is not my decision.
“I give my views on the player and how important he is to us and what I see for the team. The club will do the rest.”
Howe admits some players will leave and Miguel Almiron could head to Saudi Arabia, but Howe would ideally keep Callum Wilson, who has a year left on his contract.
He said: “There is always a different view point. I have one as a manager trying to win matches and the club have to be sustainable and comply with the rules and financial fair play. We work together as a team on that.”