Eddie Howe has said he expects Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes to still be at Newcastle next season.
The key duo continue to be linked with Premier League rivals ahead of the summer transfer window, with Isak reported to be on the radar of Arsenal as the Gunners seek a centre-forward.
Arsenal are also admirers of Guimaraes, alongside clubs including Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. The Brazil international has a release clause of around £100m in his contract that will become active for a short period in the summer.
There is understood to be an internal acceptance at Newcastle that the club will need to make sales in order to remain compliant with the Premier League’s financial rules, after posting a loss of £73.4 million for the 2022-23 financial year.
However, speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brighton, Howe said Newcastle have no intention of allowing their best players to leave and said he is planning for next season with the duo in his squad.
“I’m planning for them to be here. Yes, all my planning is with them in the squad,” Howe said.
“We’re looking to build a squad and a really successful team, and to do that we don’t want to sell our best players.
“There is no weakness in the club to say we are going to sell anyone. But, of course, financial fair play is there and we’ll have to comply like everyone else.”
