Eddie Howe facing major calls with 13 players out of contract next summer
Newcastle United may be focusing on incomings between now and the August 31st deadline, but it won't be long until the club address a host of first-team players nearing the end of their contracts on Tyneside.
Following the release of Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Loris Karius, Jeff Hendrick and Kell Watts, it's worth noting that there are 13 senior players who have now entered the final 12 months of their deals at the club.
Some of the following are expected to leave this summer (*), but there's several situations to address, with the following set to be free agents in 12 months time, as things stand:
- Callum Wilson*
- Kieran Trippier
- Fabian Schar
- Sean Longstaff
- Dan Burn
- Jamaal Lascelles
- Emil Krafth
- Martin Dubravka*
- Mark Gillespie
- John Ruddy
- Joe White*
- Ryan Fraser*
- Jamal Lewis*
As marked (*), I believe we'll see Wilson, Dubravka, Fraser, Lewis and White all move on this summer, but that would still leave eight first-team players out of contract this time next year.
Gillespie and Ruddy are possible exceptions as back-up goalkeepers likely to be on rolling one-year deals (see Karius last season) if the club feel they are worth keeping on for squad purposes and their roles off the pitch.
However, there's decisions to be made and talks to be had over Trippier, Longstaff, Schar, Burn, Lascelles (currently out with an ACL), Krafth.
I can't see Trippier signings another deal at the club. He's been a great servant and a huge signing to help kick-start this project under new owners, but Newcastle may feel like this summer is our chance to recoup a decent fee for the 33-year-old before he potentially leaves on a free next summer or cut-price fee in January? With Tino Livramento ready to step up, it could make sense.
Longstaff is seven years younger, a local lad and someone Eddie Howe clearly trusts, but is now the chance to sell? He'd be pure profit in FFP terms and is unlikely to start next season now Sandro Tonali is ready to return from his ban. I'd also argue Lewis Miley is ready to step in his shoes down the right side of our midfield three, as he showed last season.
Schar,32, is ageing like a fine wine and will hopefully get another year and I believe Burn will soon step into the 'Dummett role', playing less with age and Lloyd Kelly's arrival, but maintaining a key role in the squad based on his experience, leadership, versatility and voice in the dressing room.
Lascelles is difficult to call given he's currently out with an ACL. Without that I think he may have been sold this summer, so I wouldn't be shocked if he moved on in January (if fully fit) or left next summer on a free. As for Krafth, a lot depends on Trippier and our plans at right-back when he eventually departs, as the Swede could be used in a back-up role to Livramento or replaced with someone more capable of stepping up in Tino's absence.
A few of these 13 will be sold this summer, but there's plenty to mull over and some big decisions to be made with a number of senior players approaching the end of their contracts.
