Newcastle United are walking a transfer tightrope this summer, but losing captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal would send a dangerous message to the squad ahead of the new season, according to former Everton, Nottingham Forest and Burnley manager Sean Dyche.
Dyche warns of squad impact
Speaking on talkSPORT, Dyche said: "If they lose Guimaraes as well, it's a real big knock. If one of your big players goes at any football club, people understand there's a time and a place. When two go, that can make other players a bit itchy and a bit nervy. Then if three go, all of a sudden they go, 'Hang on a minute, who are we bringing in?'"
United have already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer, but have quickly moved to boost the squad with the signings of Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur, with Freiburg's Johan Manzambi next on their wishlist. However, while Arsenal are said to be keen to sign Newcastle captain Guimaraes, the club are now under no pressure to sell and will look to resist any offers.
Financial regulations force exits
Financial regulations meant some big-name exits were inevitable this summer, but Dyche fears that if Bruno were to leave, it could have a huge impact on the squad. "They're right on that cusp. I don't know their situation with PSR. They've been through that obviously in my time at Everton, so I know how dangerous that can be," he added.
"But I think losing the players of that quality is really tough on Eddie (Howe), and I think he's done a great job there. You never know on the other side of that, they have good people in their recruitment there - they've shown that over the years - so they might have people lined up, don't forget. These things can twist very quickly when you get a freshness in the camp, a newness, and some quality, and all of a sudden it can feel different."
Tonali exit a bitter pill
Tonali's exit was a bitter pill for Newcastle fans to swallow, coming after the club stood by him during a 10-month ban for betting-related activities. However, Dyche insisted there is no room for sentimentality in football, especially with the amount of money involved. "That's football life," he said. "It is such a cut-throat business, that's just the way it is. If you've been through it as a manager, I've been through it with players and situations where I've had to turn players' moves down, which is awkward and it's difficult.
"This is just the rules of the jungle. Like I said, with Tonali, they were saying about how he was impressed with the manager. I bet he was impressed with his paycheck packet as well! We can all bluff and blag it, but at the end of the day, players still want rewarding. And when that reward is, I don't know, let's call it double... double is double. No matter what you do in life, no matter how much you earn, double is double. So, if someone's doubling your paycheck packet, you're probably going to want to go and at least talk with them, and you're probably going to want to move. I think that's just the way that football works, you know what I mean? There's no crying in football."
