Bruce set to lose 4 first-team players if nothing changes in next 139 days – but 3 certain to leave..

All the talk has centred around transfer over the past month and a half, but there’s a few first-team players who need to be signed up over the coming weeks if we’re to keep them at the club this summer.

Federico Fernandez, Matty Longstaff, Javier Manquillo and Karl Darlow all have just over 4 months remaining on their current deals – despite being consistent members of Steve Bruce’s matchday squads – while outcasts Rob Elliot, Jack Colback and Jamie Sterry are three who looks almost certain to leave when their deals expire on June 30th.

Here’s a closer look at the four first-team players whose futures are yet to be decided:

Federico Fernandez

The Argentinian has been one of our best centre-back’s this season and is still only 30, meaning he as at least a few more good years left in him.

It’s been reported that a clause exists in his current deal to to extend his contract by another year – so let’s hope we activate it.

We’d be stupid not to given he’s barely put a foot wrong since he arrived from Swansea 18 months ago. A real leader and VERY reliable defender.

Matty Longstaff

The 19-year-old has been broke onto the scene last summer and has rarely looked out of place since being handed a place in Steve Bruce’s 25-man squad.

That said, we’re STILL struggling to agree terms over a new long term contract, meaning we’re at risk of losing him for a compensation fee of just £400,000 this summer.

Time to get this one sorted. With him being one of our best young players and a local lad living the dream, you’d think the two parties will eventually reach an agreement.

Javier Manquillo

The Spaniard was on the way to being deemed a total flop a year or so ago, but his form over 2019 has been superb, with him rarely letting the side down when he’s been called upon.

He was Bruce’s first-choice right-back just a few months ago, but a hamstring injury has kept him out since New Year’s Day. Since then, Yedlin has come back into the side and Valentino Lazaro has signed, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we allow his contract to run down.

It would seem odd to allow arguably our most reliable right-back leave on a free this summer when he’s only 25, but with Krafth signed recently and Lazaro arriving with an ‘option to buy’, it feels like his time on Tyneside could be coming to an end.

Karl Darlow

The former Forest stopper has stepped in and done a decent job when called upon this season – however he’s yet to play a minute of Premier League football this season, being played only in the cups.

He’s still relatively young for a goalkeeper at 29, but he’s coming to a stage where he’ll be wanting regular first-team football – so would he really accept a new deal to remain our bench-warmer behind Dubravka?

It was reported this week that we turned down a January bid from Leeds, however I can see him signing an extension then being sold for a fee this summer.

With Dubravka well and truly our no.1 and Woodman set to return in a few months from his impressive loan spell with Swansea, I can see him joining a promotion chasing Championship side.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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