With the transfer window closing across Europe and the Football League today, there’s still several Newcastle United players who could complete moves away from St James’ Park.
The club will be hoping to move on Rolando Aarons, Jack Colback, Henri Saivet and Achraf Lazaar after they failed to make Steve Bruce’s 25-man squad, while Javier Manquillo and U-23 Jamie Sterry have also been linked with exits, with Valencia showing interest in the former.
Here’s a close look at each player linked with late moves away:
Rolando Aarons – He featured over pre-season and looked likely to be included in our 25-man squad at one stage – especially after impressing under Bruce earlier in the year at Sheffield Wednesday – but he’s missed out. He’s completed overseas loan moves to Italy and Czech Republic in the past few years, so another European venture could be on the cards.
Jack Colback – The Chronicle claim that Colback was ‘shocked’ not to be included in Bruce’s 25-man squad, but I’m not sure why when Longstaff (and his brother), Hayden, Shelvey and Ki are all ahead of him in the pecking order. He has one year left on his contract and it feels like his £45,000 wage packet could block any loan exit, with any European side / lower league clubs in England or Scotland unlikely to match his wage demands.
Achraf Lazaar – He seems like the one outcast most likely to seal a move away today, with Serie B side Cosenza said to be ‘close’ to completing a loan deal. He’s another player who did well under Steve Bruce during his time at Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the year, but it perhaps speaks volumes that he’s still not been included in his 25-man squad and could be heading for the Italian second tier instead.
Henri Saivet – The Senegalese midfielder impressed during his country’s run to the AFCON finals earlier this summer, but he’s not been included in Bruce’s plans following his return to Tyneside. After recent spells with Saint-Etienne and Bursaspor, could another stint in France or Turkey be on the cards?
Javier Manquillo – I don’t see us letting him go, but it has been reported in Spain that Valencia have identified him as one of their top targets after their first-team right-back Cristiano Piccini suffered a serious injury. With Yedlin back in training and Krafth signed, Bruce may allow him to leave for his homeland and a big La Liga club in Valencia, but I can’t see us letting him go based on Yedlin’s fitness issues and Manquillo’s promising form over pre-season.
Jamie Sterry – I almost called the right-back a ‘youngster’ earlier in the article, but he no longer is, with him turning 24 later this year. It seems quite clear now that he won’t be breaking through at senior level, so it feels like it would be the best move for all parties if he completed a permanent move away. After all, there’s only so long he can spend playing in our U-23 side.
