We’re a while away yet, but a recent article from the Mirror made me realise just how many Newcastle players are due to be out of contract next summer.
As highlighted below by Transfermarkt.co.uk, the following EIGHT squad men are set to leave the club on a free next summer should we fail to hand them new deals:
- Andy Carroll
- Federico Fernandez
- Ki Sung-yeung
- Javier Manquillo
- Karl Darlow
- Jack Colback
- Rob Elliot
- Jamie Sterry
*Jetro Willems’ loan expires next summer but we have an option to buy*
Starting with Andy Carroll, it’s fair to say any extension for him will be totally dependant on his ability to A) get/stay fit and B) perform when he gets his chance to play. If injuries plague him once again it may be that this one goes down as a risk that backfired, but hopefully he can at least prove to be an impact player from the bench and chip in with a few goals, seeing him earn an extension as a result.
Federico Fernandez is someone I’d love to keep around, with the Argentinian being a very capable centre-back who often comes in and does a brilliant job when called upon. That said, is Ashley going to hand a new deal to a player who’ll be 31 next summer? I hope so, but I doubt it.
Then to Ki. He’s a tidy player but one who has barely featured for Bruce so far – and his one and only appearance saw him put in a very poor display in our 3-1 defeat at Norwich. I don’t think he’ll stick around much longer and wouldn’t rule out a January move to give him first-team football and hand us some cash before he leaves for nothing.
Javier Manquillo is another one who provides decent cover, however it’s hard to see him earning any new deal if Bruce sees both Krafth and Yedlin above him in the pecking order at right-back. Another player who could exit in January for a cut-price fee, with Jack Colback likely to follow suit after failing to be included in our 25-man squad.
Jetro Willems is another one we could lose. We have an option to buy at the end of his loan if he impresses, but he’s another player we could be left needing to replace next summer IF he fails to earn a permanent deal.
Then there’s goalkeeping duo Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot. It’s almost a given that Elliot will leave on a free once his contract expires, with the 33-year-old’s last appearance coming in a 0-1 home defeat to Man City in December 2017! As for Darlow, I see Woodman returning next summer to compete with Dubravka, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he left for a Championship side in January.
Finally, there’s Jamie Sterry. The right-back turns 24 in a few months time, so he’s no longer a ‘youngster’ who can continue to tread water in our U-23 set up. Sadly, he’s never looked like breaking into our first-team, despite a few pre-season appearances, so a move to the Football League could be on the cards for him.
