It could be the final time in black-and-white for some NUFC stars ahead of a busy summer transfer windoiw
It might be an emotional day at St James’ Park on Sunday. If all goes as planned, Newcastle United will celebrate finishing in the Premier League’s top five and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Following the Carabao Cup win in March, the scenes at full-time may be filled with jubilation. However, for some, it will be tinged with sadness.
Newcastle are poised to be active in the summer transfer window, but for all the focus on incoming signings, they will have to move some players on. The team is not vast, so there will be no mass exits, but United must optimize their selling potential to help improve their spending power.
That means Sunday’s game against Everton will be the last time some players put on the black-and-white shirt, or for those who aren’t involved, visit the famed old ground to see their teammates in action.
Perhaps the most well-known is Callum Wilson, who currently wears the No. 9 shirt. His contract expires in a few weeks, and with no announcement of a new term, it appears that he will leave the club on a free transfer. He has several clubs interested in him, but it would be fitting if he could score his 50th Premier League goal for Newcastle before leaving.
Leeds are interested in Wilson and his United teammate Sean Longstaff. After progressing through the Academy, leaving his hometown club would be difficult, but the North Shields-born midfielder has struggled to find first-team opportunities. If United opt to cash in on Longstaff, any transfer money would be treated as pure profit in PSR terms.
There has been much discussion about new goalkeepers arriving this summer, which means that some of United’s four existing shot-stoppers may be going. Nick Pope remains the most likely transfer target for United, despite Eddie Howe’s admiration for the former England player.
Would he like to sit on the bench if a new signing arrives? Potentially not at this point in his career, so while he is still first choice and a vital part of the team, that might change rapidly. Back-up goalkeepers Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, and John Ruddy all have questionable futures.
Ruddy was signed mostly as an emergency option and has played a supporting role, but Vlachodimos will almost certainly leave this summer after only one 45-minute appearance. Dubravka has once again demonstrated his ability to fill in for Pope and may remain as a No. 2 option, but he, too, faces a busy summer.
Matt Targett and club captain Jamaal Lascelles’ playing time has been limited this season due to injuries, with the skipper yet to play. Both are valuable squad members, although they could be considered ‘expendable’ if a sufficient bid is made. Howe has frequently mentioned Lascelles’ importance behind the scenes and may not want to lose the centre-back, but if United buy a new defender in the summer, his route to the first team may be even more difficult.
Howe would undoubtedly be reluctant to lose Kieran Trippier, but the former England full-back has been the subject of interest in recent summers and may feel it is time to move on. There is little doubt about his skills, as evidenced by his recent form, but with Tino Livramento slated to be first choice on the right when Lewis Hall recovers from injury, Trippier may be tempted to end his career elsewhere.
The same goes for Joe Willock. The former Arsenal midfielder has struggled with injuries and hasn’t been able to regain his previous form this season. On his day, he’s a big asset for Newcastle, and Crystal Palace is reportedly interested. United would need to replace him in the team, but the right offer may compel them to ponder his future.
There will be some surprises over the summer too, no doubt. We didn’t expect to be saying goodbye to Elliot Anderson this time last year, although United don’t have the same PSR demands this time around.
Whatever happens, there will be those who walk down the tunnel for the final time this Sunday.
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