In recent memory, Newcastle United hasn’t been the efficient nor effective club when it’s come to moving players on.
But this season is different: we’ve earned over £30m this year from the sales of Lloyd Kelly, Sean Longstaff and Martin Dubravka, and significantly reduced the wage bill with Callum Wilson, Jamal Lewis and Isaac Hayden’s departures.
And business isn’t over just yet, as another notable name is now all-but-confirmed to be leaving this summer on loan.
It’s a move that makes financial sense, and avoids frustration amongst the squad as competition for places gets more intense ahead of the upcoming season , especially after Aaron Ramsdale’s arrival.
Toon stopper set for medical
Images have circulated of goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos landing in Spain ahead of proposed loan move to former Europa League winners Sevilla.
The deal is expected to be a straight loan that includes no option or obligation to buy, with Newcastle set to cover the majority of the Greek international’s wages.
The 31-year-old has made just a single competitive appearance for Newcastle since his PSR-driven arrival from Nottingham Forest last summer, which saw Elliot Anderson head in the opposite direction.
Vlachodimos was reportedly adamant about staying in Europe this season, for both the sake of his family and with the World Cup on the horizon. He had previously rejected a loan opportunity at Pumas in Mexico because of this.
After losing his place as the national team’s No. 1, Vlachodimos will be eager to play and impress in Spain to win back his place ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Sevilla will be a big test for the former Benfica star however, as they were very nearly relegated from La Liga last season, only just surviving in 17th place.
Straight loan agreed
According to The Athletic, it’s a straight loan with no option to buy. Whilst neither part of the deal is really ideal for us, it makes practical sense from a PSR-perspective.
Because of how much we spent on him last June, it would have a negative impact on our finances (from a PSR standpoint) to sell him for a massive loss so soon after his arrival.
Overall, this is our ninth departure of 2025, a clear sign that the club is starting to get ruthless from a financial point-of-view, opting for a smaller squad to keep ourselves in a healthy position for PSR and to make the big name signings.
Feels like we’ve been done here, I cannot help but feel with a more stable recruitment department, we would have been able to negotiate better deals……
Not sure about this one & the benefits you mentioned in the article about being ruthless sellers & how this departure benefits the clubs finances & PSR situation.
In what way does allowing a GK to leave with no supposed loan fee & the “home” club (NUFC) to pay the majority of his wages benefit us from a PSR perspective?
Sure, if he plays, in theory it maintains his sell on value, but that’s not guaranteed, if he plays badly, his value will tank, meaning we are still stuck with the player. And Sevilla aren’t making a significant contribution financially to us.
I’m content that he’s gone for the season, but we really needed to get a loan fee and/or a significant part of his wages covered.
Alex(Quote)
Any port in a storm? Even if he does badly he comes back with 1 year less and we have covered at least some of his wages.
With 1 year less his PSR book value goes down and we find another loan move. The idea being to sell once he has 1 or 2 years left and a book value of £4-£8m to clear.
If he does well then the next loan could be with a fee and more or all of his wages covered.
In the meantime he’s away from the squad and we don’t keep getting the silly stuff about too many goalkeepers keep coming up.
Johnny Mac(Quote)
And is 2 years time I expect we may be in better financial position to write off his book value if needed either through organic commercial growth or the APT thing finally gets sorted with the Man City legal challenge.
Johnny Mac(Quote)
Yeah, I don’t disagree with your points of view & sentiments, however I wonder if because of said storm, this has maybe slipped under the radar from an organisational perspective because the BoH team have been so desperately focused on Isak & the subsequent incomings needed. Just all feels a bit… All over the place, hectic & chaotic.
Alex(Quote)
I don’t understand why we bought him as we didn’t need a goalkeeper at the time.
We have the expense of his wages and probable depreciation from the initial purchase price of £30M.
MagpieJo(Quote)