Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has warned Newcastle they risk losing Bruno Guimaraes alongside Sandro Tonali, as mounting speculation surrounds both midfielders’ futures at St James’ Park this summer. According to Caughtoffside.com.
Newcastle warned of potential midfield exodus as Keown predicts Guimaraes departure
Speaking on talkSPORT about Tonali’s uncertain future, Keown identified Guimaraes as the next high-profile departure from Newcastle’s squad. The pundit drew parallels with Alexander Isak’s summer exit, suggesting a pattern of key players being “cherry-picked” from Eddie Howe’s team.
Tonali has attracted interest from Arsenal and other clubs, creating uncertainty around the Italian midfielder’s long-term commitment to Newcastle. The speculation has intensified concerns about the club’s ability to retain their most valuable assets without securing Champions League qualification.
Keown delivered a stark warning about the consequences of losing star players, stating that Newcastle need to “secure Champions League football otherwise, one by one you lose these players”. He emphasised the financial implications, noting it would “only cost more money to bring the next generation in” as replacements.
Guimaraes has previously been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and PSG but has remained at Newcastle despite the interest. However, with Tonali’s future now in doubt following Isak’s departure, the Brazil international’s commitment to the project faces fresh scrutiny from observers.
The former England defender expressed sympathy for both Howe and Newcastle supporters, acknowledging the challenge of competing against clubs who systematically target their best players. His comments highlight the precarious position facing mid-tier clubs trying to build sustainable success in modern football.
