Four senior players set to leave NUFC this week – Good news for Rafa Benitez

With our squad in major need of trimming, it will come as welcome news to Rafa Benitez that Massaido Haidara, Jesus Gamez, Chancel Mbemba and Matz Sels all look set seal permanent moves away St James’ Park this week.

It doesn’t appear to be a ‘sell before you buy’ summer (we signed Dubravka before any goalkeeper outgoings), however it’s quite clear that we have a lot of deadwood on our books, so releasing some of that will go a long way towards raising funds, reducing the wage bill and creating space in our overcrowded squad.

Starting with Haidara and Gamez, neither will command a fee, but it will be seen as a good job done getting both off our books when their contracts officially expire at the end of the month (especially the latter who’s said to be on a decent wage).

The Chronicle report today that the Frenchman could be set to sign a two-year-deal with Ligue 2 side Lens, while the Spaniard looks set to return to his homeland in search of a new club.

With regards to Sels and Mbemba, it’s reported in Belgium that the pair have already agreed to contracts with Anderlecht, who appear to be closing in on a £9m double deal.

It’s not a great deal of money for two international players at a good age, but it’s more money that *should* top up Rafa’s budget this summer.

All four players clearly have no future at NUFC, so it’ll be a step in the right direction to move them on as far as Rafa’s concerned.

This would just be a start too. There’s also Colback, Lazaar, Saivet – and I wouldn’t bet against the likes of Aarons, Manquillo, Joselu, Gayle and Darlow being up for grabs too.

Hopefully soon we’ll see some signings start to filter in as a result – although I suspect the signing of a proven striker may have to wait until we cash in on Mitrovic.

(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.

5 thoughts on “Four senior players set to leave NUFC this week – Good news for Rafa Benitez

  1. These players going is all good news – although whilst I trust Rafa I still think Mbemba is a real loss given the potential he showed. With the news that people are hovering closely around Leujene, Merino and obviously Lascelles I’m more concerned about us listening to those sort of offers!

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  2. Good job getting Gamez off the books? Rafa signed him and then never played him. Same with Lazaar.

    Signing players on a fee, paying wages, then letting them go on a free (Gamez) or for cheap (Lazaar) is just bad business.

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  3. So it’s looking increasingly likely that before we buy we have to sell , and Ashley is not giving Rafa a transfer budget at all , money generated is the only money available to sign players .So it’s another bleak transfer window for the supporters again .To be the sand position as the end of last season we need to have agreed deals for Dubravka and Kennedy , and only Dubravka deal has been concluded , so we are actually in a much worse position now than we were at seasons end especially with outgoings .

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  4. Ashley only pays for players in one lump up front. But when he sells, he has to accept part-payments stretched out over several years. But he only counts the cash that has actually come in, in any given year as money available for purchases, he refuses to take into account all the future money that will be coming in and won’t allow any term-based payments for purchasing players using that future money to cover the expenses. So, if he sells a player for 10M, but accepts payments of 2M up front and then 2M for each of the next four yrs, he then tries to say that he has only got 2M to buy new players with, because that is the only cash that actually came in, in that year.
    He’s a lousy business man …and a lousy liar. 😡

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