It’s crunch time for the decision makers at Newcastle
Although the transfer market will be closed for the foreseeable future, Newcastle United executives are working diligently behind the scenes to make sure that plans are solidified for January and beyond.
Not only is the winter market significant, but everyone at St. James’ Park knows that the club will be terminating several contracts in the summer of 2019. That is an issue in today’s profit-and sustainability-driven world, as the Magpies are not excited about the idea of maybe losing players for free or at a low cost.
Paul Mitchell, the sporting director, hasn’t had the best start to his career on Tyneside, but he has a swift opportunity to make amends by signing some of Newcastle’s finest players who are nearing the end of their contracts. Nine first-team players who have contracts that are about to expire are presently free to speak with other teams in January. One may argue that before then, five has to be ironed out.
It’s unclear if backup stoppers Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy’s contracts will be renewed in 2025–2026 because they provide help on the training field rather than in games. Another player who is nearing the end of a long contract is Martin Dubravka, whose future is undoubtedly uncertain following the events of the summer.
The 36-year-old Slovakian is not a spring bird and currently has little to no market worth. Despite Eddie Howe’s adoration, it’s possible that Dubravka leaves on a free agent because Newcastle is still looking for a new goalkeeper. Jamaal Lascelles, who was just named “club captain,” may be in a similar situation since he is taking his time making a comeback after suffering a severe ACL injury.
Although transfer rumors, particularly one involving Turkish club Besiktas, have persisted in recent transfer windows, the center-back has been an essential member of Howe’s team both off the field and when called upon.
Nevertheless, Newcastle won’t be eager to lose the other five names, if at all. Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff are the club’s two best players and are here to stay, even if it means gradually moving up the ladder to squad and rotational players.
After a concerning injury setback and a summer of conjecture, Callum Wilson’s future is still unknown. However, when healthy, one of the league’s most lethal finishers has a part to play for Howe’s team or a charge to be paid. If Fabian Schar wants to compete with any prospective January addition at center back instead of looking for a last challenge or pay day elsewhere, the same may be said.
Then there’s Emil Krafth, a team member who has performed exceptionally well lately when called upon. It would be difficult to imagine Newcastle letting him go for free if his recent performance holds true.
These are the big choices that Mitchell will have to make moving ahead, and the newly appointed club president has already scheduled a meeting with Howe to discuss these exact issues.
Eddie and I will have a seat together, Mitchell recently said. We’ll go over each one separately, discussing how it affects performance now and where it will go in the next year or two. We shall decide what to do about that.
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