Eddie Howe has confirmed that Isaac Hayden and Jeff Hendrick are free to leave this summer, revealing that Garang Kuol will also be sent out on loan again.
Hayden (Norwich) and Hendrick (Reading) are due back from loan spells in the Championship but will NOT be part of Howe’s pre-season programme, while Kuol won’t be involved at first-team level just yet following a “tough” loan spell at Hearts.
The boss doesn’t expect too many outgoings – he seems keen to keep the core group together – and went public with his plans to keep three Mags on Tyneside, saying “I want to keep Martin Dubravka, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett into the squad”.
Ritchie and Dummett are both out of contract at the end of the season and have barely featured all year, yet it seems Howe values their influence behind the scenes, also believing Dubravka will get “a lot of football” next season due to our hectic schedule.
Howe also confirmed that he’ll be holding recruitment meetings in the next few days to discuss his summer budget, but stressed that there won’t be huge numbers signing at St James’ Park.
Howe on Isaac Hayden, Jeff Hendrick and other exits:
“I think I had those conversations with those players last year, where they trained separately from the group. That was only so I could control the numbers that I was working with and maintain the focus of the players that were going to be part of our season.
“I don’t anticipate that changing to be honest. Those lads have done very well, and they’ve been great lads and servants to the football club over many seasons. We certainly respect them, but sometimes you have to make a clear break and focus on the players that are going to be part of our season next year.
“Maybe one or two players might move this summer but it’s very difficult to predict. I think we have to keep the majority of the squad together – I think they’ve earned the right to do that, but we also have to be good in the transfer market.”
Howe on Garang Kuol:
“We’re really pleased he scored – we’re delighted for him. It’s been a tough loan spell for him but hopefully some real positivity to take into the summer.
“It’s probably too early to be part of our first team picture next year and I think another loan spell will do him good as he continues to develop to the pace of this league.”
Howe on preparing for the summer and recruitment plans:
‘It’s been a hectic few days. For me, it’s on to planning and preparing for next season straight away. A lot of work going on behind the scenes. A lot of our success next year will be down to what I do now.
“I hoped to do some things anyway [even if we didn’t get UCL] and I don’t think it changes the numbers [making the Champions League]. We’ll have to produce a squad for the Champions League. So top four won’t change the amount of signings.
“As I’ve said, it won’t be a lot of numbers and a lot of big moves in. Hopefully it’ll be selective and the right two or three players to make the difference.
“We haven’t had those (budget) discussions yet, but we are planning to sit down in the next couple of days and go through things now it’s been finalise. So we’ll see how that goes.
