Eddie Howe quizzed on Bruno's 'wave goodbye' and the midfielder's Newcastle future

EDDIE HOWE insists Bruno Guimaraes’ celebrations in front of the travelling supporters at Brentford this afternoon were not a goodbye to the Newcastle United fans, but accepts he cannot give any guarantees over the Brazilian’s future.

Guimaraes was in sparkling form as Newcastle secured a seventh-placed finish in the final Premier League table, claiming a goal and two assists in his side’s 4-2 win at the Gtech Community Stadium. The result means the Magpies will secure a place in next season’s Europa Conference League if Manchester City win the FA Cup final on Saturday.

In the immediate aftermath of today’s game, Guimaraes led the post-match celebrations in front of the away section of the ground, throwing his shirt into the crowd as he was serenaded by the travelling support.

Newcastle do not want to lose the 26-year-old this summer, but a £100m release clause in his contract means they could be powerless to prevent him leaving if a club lodges an offer before a cut-off point of June 30.

“I don’t think it’s a wave goodbye,” said Howe. “I think Bruno’s probably done that many times. It can be interpreted as anything – it can be interpreted in a certain way if the people watching interpret that to be the case.

“Certainly, from my side, I hope it’s not. He is integral to what we are doing. He is an inspirational player and we’re desperate to keep him.”

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Guimaraes is not the only Newcastle player being linked with a possible move away this summer, with Arsenal heading a lengthening list of clubs reportedly interested in Alexander Isak, who also claimed a goal and an assist in today’s win.

“It’s important (to keep best players), it really is,” said Howe. “Good players are really difficult to find. They’re very difficult to bring into any football club because there’s such a high premium for them.

“I think a lot of the players that we’ve brought in haven’t been ready-made to hit the ground running, there’s been a process to get them to the level they are now. So, that then means you need time, and that’s time you generally don’t have.

“It’s very much that in the modern day, there’s pressure all the time to keep improving and growing. That’s why it’s important to keep our best players.”

Howe praised both Guimares and Isak for their performances against Brentford, but was quick to underline the importance of the collective at the end of a campaign that has seen Newcastle’s squad stretched to its limit.

“They’re two outstanding players,” he said. “I’ve said it many times this season – they can make the difference for us, and they have made the difference for us in numerous games.

“But it’s always about the team for me, and how the team functions. The team gives them a platform to play well. I think they’re suited to how we play, and their involvement in the goals today was top class.

“But you can’t forget the team-mates that have helped them. It’s been a real team effort all season, they’ve really stuck together through the good times and the hard times. I can’t speak highly enough about the group of players.”