EDDIE Howe will welcome the imminent conclusion to Bruno Guimaraes' Newcastle United contract uncertainty - and hopes the Brazilian is followed by Joelinton and Sean Longstaff in signing a new deal at St James' Park.

Bruno is understood to have agreed a new deal with Newcastle with confirmation expected soon - though, speaking at his press conference on Friday morning, Howe again wouldn't be drawn into commenting on the matter directly or reports of a £100m release clause.

United's head coach did say, however, that the stability that a new contract brings will benefit both Newcastle and Bruno, who has been linked with several clubs including Liverpool and Real Madrid since joining the Magpies last January.

Howe said:  "I think for any player the contract is important because you want stability. You want the player to enter the training and games without thinking about their future, that's any player not just Bruno, you want them just thinking about football.

"I'm taking everything off the pitch away from them. Personal issues they may have, contract issues, the football is the most important thing. If any player trains and plays to the best of their ability they are only going to receive good things off the back of that. So fingers crossed we can reach a conclusion."

Asked when he expects confirmation of Bruno's new deal, Howe said:  "You might know more than me, I don't know. I'm not involved in that. I'm focused on so many games and that's taken care of by other people. Hopefully I will hear before you, but maybe not."

READ MORE:

While Newcastle have long been in contract negotiations with Bruno and his representatives, the Magpies are now also said to be preparing to enter into talks with Joelinton and Longstaff, whose current deals are due to expire at the end of next season.

Both midfielders have been key to Newcastle's success under Howe and the head coach would be delighted if the duo extend their stay.

He said: "Definitely, we want to try and build up the squad and that doesn't mean we take for granted keeping the players that we already have. We have to give them the right environment to want to stay and hopefully we have. Obviously finances comes into that as well. They are two huge players for us."