Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have become the focus of intense transfer rumours surrounding Newcastle United, with club legend Chris Waddle urging the pair to be “man enough” to make their intentions clear. In an exclusive chat with GOAL, Waddle advised the midfielders to speak publicly about their futures, as Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
Tonali and Guimaraes remain vital components of Newcastle’s midfield setup. Guimaraes, who has regularly worn the captain’s armband at St James’ Park, is currently representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, which naturally commands his full attention. For now, domestic concerns have taken a back seat.
Nevertheless, Newcastle need clarity on the Brazilian star’s future. Should Guimaraes decide to seek a new challenge, Eddie Howe and his staff will have to act swiftly to find an appropriate replacement. The same applies to Italian midfielder Tonali, whose combative tackling and driving forward runs have been key to Newcastle’s style of play. Replacing a player of his calibre would be no easy task.
With no European football on the horizon, the Magpies face the risk of losing key players. If either Tonali or Guimaraes were to depart, their transfers would command hefty fees, bringing in considerable funds for the club. Newcastle have already pocketed approximately £70 million ($94m) from the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona.
Manager Eddie Howe is expected to have funds available when the 2026 summer transfer window opens. Domestic rivals are reportedly keen on securing Newcastle’s star midfielders, with potential bids likely to come from Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium. While the club are reluctant to sell after finishing a disappointing 12th last season, the absence of European football in 2026-27 could make retaining their top performers more difficult.
When asked whether Tonali or Guimaraes could soon leave St James’ Park, former Magpies winger Chris Waddle told GOAL, via NewBettingOffers.co.uk, “Well, the World Cup’s on, obviously Tonali’s not involved. There’s talk going around, but who’s behind it? If it’s not the players, then it’s surely their agents.”
He continued, “Have they had enough? It’s been a disappointing season, a poor one by Newcastle’s standards. Maybe these players are thinking, ‘I need to play at the top level, I want Champions League football.’ It’s an easy way out by saying, ‘I want to play in the Champions League.’ If they truly want to leave, they should come out and say it — something like, ‘I’ve had a good few years here, I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s time to move on.’ It might not even be England; Tonali could go elsewhere, and Guimaraes, who’s now 28 or 29, might fancy a move somewhere else in Europe.”
Waddle added, “I don’t understand why players don’t just say it — ‘I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I want to move on.’ Fans respect honesty. Instead, they hide behind their agents or the media. They should be man enough to say, ‘I love Newcastle, I’m staying,’ or, ‘I want to leave, I want Champions League football, I don’t want to play mid-table, I want to compete for the top four.’ At least then people will respect the honesty, whatever their choice.”
Tonali’s agent has been vocal since the winter transfer window closed, when Arsenal reportedly made a move for the Italian as they looked to strengthen their squad ahead of the title run-in. No firm decisions have been made yet, with the 26-year-old weighing his options. Meanwhile, Guimaraes, after four and a half years at Newcastle that included 195 appearances and a Carabao Cup triumph, may feel he has one final big move left in his career before starting afresh elsewhere.
