Ashworth responds to Bruno Guimaraes rumours and makes honest admission on future sales

Speaking to The Athletic, Newcastle's sporting director Dan Ashworth insisted the club has no intention of selling Bruno Guimaraes following reported interest from Real Madrid.

During the interview, Ashworth acknowledged that future sales are natural if the right price comes our way at the right time for the club, saying Sadio Mane's move from Liverpool was proof that no one is immune from high-profile exits - especially if they allow for greater reinvestment within FFP restrictions.

However, the 51-year-old insisted that he has no intention of selling our best players, stating that the Brazil international is a 'really important part of this journey'.

Bruno himself has even previously admitted that he wants to become a 'legend' at Newcastle, despite confirming that there had been 'conversations' with Real Madrid over the summer.

Here's what Ashworth had to say when asked about Guimaraes' future and the club's approach to potential sales:

“Absolutely I do not want to sell Bruno. He's a top player and a really important part of this journey.

“You have to trade, given financial fair play. I can’t lie to you and say we’ll never have to sell a player, that doesn’t happen anywhere. Liverpool sold Sadio Mane (this summer).

"You have to sometimes make a pragmatic decision to go, ‘OK, we’ll do that, because that’s a way of reinvesting'. But, as a rule of thumb, I would like to think we’ll be able to hold onto our top talent to drive our ambitions.”

Unless we are competing for trophies and playing in Europe, it will be tough to compete with the Real Madrid's or Man City's of this world, but it is refreshing to hear that we will explore every possibility to keep our top talents on Tyneside.