Paul Mitchell set ‘key task’ at Newcastle United after behind-the-scenes debate

One of Sporting Director Paul Mitchell’s priority tasks at Newcastle United has been revealed, and it’s been showing positive signs of success so far.

Speaking in his weekly Inside Newcastle Q&A, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh discussed Mitchell’s goal of greatly reducing the average age of the Newcastle squad – particularly in defence – whilst also maintaining depth and quality throughout the squad.

Despite high-profile defensive signings like Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento being brought in and very quickly cementing their places as integral players, there still remains a number of the ‘old guard’ on Tyneside, as well as squad members on the wrong side of 30-years-old.

Discussing one of Mitchell’s key tasks moving forward, Waugh said: ‘This (an ageing squad) is a constant source of debate internally because squad building given the PSR restrictions Newcastle face is far from straightforward.

‘There is a recognition that age is an issue for the defence in particular — Kieran Trippier (34), Dan Burn (32), Emil Krafth (30), Jamaal Lascelles (30) and Fabian Schar (32) are 30 or older and succession planning is required.

‘Sven Botman (24), Hall (20), Livramento (22) and Kelly (26) could feasibly remain long-term, but the wider defensive pool needs to become younger. That is one of Mitchell’s key tasks as sporting director: to reduce the average age of the squad, while also attempting to add depth and improve quality.’

One of the main criticisms of recent squad activity has been the offers of contract extensions and new deals to elder players, though PSR restrictions have of course played a key part in the decision making process there.

Waugh added: ‘It is extremely difficult to do that in such a competitive and expensive market. If Newcastle let all of those ageing players go, replacing them is far from straightforward.’

Since the summer centre-back debacle, when the club failed to secure the signatures of either Tosin Adarabioyo (poached by Chelsea) or Marc Guehi (kept by Crystal Palace), Mitchell and the club higher-ups appear to have a new transfer policy in mind.

‘Going forward, some of the key words repeated inside Newcastle are that they must be “astute”, “shrewd”, “flexible” and “canny” in the transfer market.’

‘Further free transfers will play a role, but so too will signing younger players from overseas markets they have yet to really exploit. There is a risk to that but, in a world governed by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), Mitchell feels it is one they must take.’

With three defenders in Lascelles, Krafth and Schar all approaching the end of their current contracts, though the latter two have been rumoured to be in line for an extension, the club has made a solid start in beginning to fix the ageing players issue for the time being.

But the summer will pose an interesting to see if the club sticks with its plans to boost its youthfulness, or stick with its reliable ageing players for the sake of PSR.