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Bruno Guimarães was not on Newcastle’s flight to Murcia on Friday lunchtime as Eddie Howe’s former players prepared to meet their new head coach in southern Spain.
As Guimarães, who is believed to be in Brazil, appeared to inch closer towards a transfer to Arsenal, Matthias Jaissle was completing his managerial move from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli. Howe’s successor is expected to arrive at the club’s pre-season training camp at La Manga at some point this weekend.
By the time, shortly after midday, when the team’s charter plane took off for the Mediterranean, Newcastle had still to provide formal confirmation of Howe’s departure. That did not arrive until late afternoon but it is understood they had been negotiating a financial settlement with their former manager in addition to payoffs for four key members of his backroom staff, including the outgoing No 2, Jason Tindall.
In an emotional message released as part of Newcastle’s statement, Howe said. “It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have been the manager of Newcastle United. After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into this club with unrelenting energy I feel that it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break. Although it’s been incredibly difficult to make this decision, I know in my heart it’s the right one.”
The amicable nature of the parting was reflected in generous tributes paid by Newcastle’s chief executive David Hopkinson, sporting director Ross Wilson and minority owner, Jamie Reuben. The latter said: “I am proud to have worked alongside Eddie Howe and privileged to call him a friend.” Hopkinson said: “Eddie and his staff leave with the deep gratitude and respect of everyone at Newcastle United and a lasting place in the club’s history.”
Although Howe had told Newcastle of his intention to leave earlier this month, leaks surrounding Jaissle’s imminent installation appeared to catch all parties by surprise. The players had learned of their manager’s departure during a day off on Thursday but had the situation fully explained when Wilson addressed them at the training ground before heading to Spain alongside the squad.
At the same time, Newcastle’s incoming German head coach was understood to be finalising a four-year contract at St James’ Park after an £8m compensation package was agreed with Al-Ahli. Jaissle is already in Europe after remaining in Portugal rather than returning to Jeddah with his squad following the conclusion of a pre-season training camp on the Algarve on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old former RB Salzburg manager is assembling his own backroom staff and now has only three weeks before his first Premier League season begins with a home game against Liverpool.
One of his first tasks will be to hold talks with Guimarães regarding the Brazil midfielder’s future. Guimarães – who was very close to Howe – is booked on a flight to Spain on Sunday but there are suggestions he could opt to board a London-bound plane instead, should Arsenal offer Newcastle a sum in the region of £75m.
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Although Manchester United are exploring the possibility of signing Lewis Hall, Jaissle has reason to be more confident of keeping the influential left back. Newcastle are said to be determined to retain one of their best young players but could be more receptive to any bid from Saudi Arabia for Joelinton. Guimarães’s fellow Brazilian is believed to be keen on a move to the Middle East.
While Besiktas also covet another Newcastle midfielder, Joe Willock, Wilson appears close to securing a new goalkeeper. A £26m deal for the Braga and Czechia goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek is expected to be completed over the weekend.
Should that move for the 24-year-old progress as planned, Nick Pope, Newcastle’s current first-choice keeper, will almost certainly prove yet another departure during a turbulent summer featuring a major changing of the guard on Tyneside.
