There was a feeling all season that this Newcastle United The team is reaching the end of its useful life, with Eddie Howe needing to move players and find upgrades this summer to continue his progression to a consistent top-six team.
Like most Premier League clubs, Newcastle have concerns about profits and sustainability and will have to sell to finance any ambitious moves in the transfer market.
Players such as Wolves winger Pedro Neto, 24, and Crystal Palace duo Michael Olise, 22, and Eberechi Eze, 25, have been discussed in recruitment meetings and fit the age profile of players Newcastle would like to sign . Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdaleand highly-rated Valencia defender Giorgi Mamardashvili have been widely watched, but at the moment there is also a focus on player transfers.
Some popular figures may well be on their way out this summer. Telegraph sport look at some of those who could have played their last game for the club.
Callum Wilson
The England international, who turns 33 next February, has once again had a campaign hampered by injury and there are serious doubts about keeping a highly paid player who tends to miss months of a season rather than just weeks.
Wilson has played just 108 games in four seasons at St James’ Park in all competitions and has made just 26 appearances this season, which is about average for him.
He’s not getting any younger and, crucially, there may well be a market for him to sell. It is understood that there have been provisional talks with clubs in Saudi Arabia who would be interested in signing a player who, when fit, was a regular in the England squad as a back-up to Harry Kane.
Howe has struggled to keep a striker he has known since signing him from Bournemouth a decade ago, but is also aware of the existing financial constraints and the need to sell.
Interestingly, after seeing Wilson return to the starting line-up with a goal against Burnley just over two weeks ago, Howe was adamant about keeping him, but when he missed two more games against Brighton and Manchester United, he was much less direct in that view. and avoided answering questions about his future.
There are not many better strikers in the Premier League than Wilson when he is fit and it will be expensive and risky to replace him as he still scored 10 goals last season and is the Premier League’s second all-time top scorer behind by Alan Shearer. .
Of all the difficult decisions that need to be made, this is the one that is likely to hurt Howe the most, but if they can get £15-20m for a player who only has one year left on his contract this summer, it is smart business and will help the recruitment budget as he has been at the club for four years and the £20m paid for him is almost off the books in terms of PSR accounting.
Verdict: To leave
Miguel Almiron
The writing appears to be on the wall for the Paraguayan international who almost left for Saudi Arabia in January. Newcastle are definitely looking to sign another right-back this summer and they already have Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy who can play in that position. Almiron has been a very good player for Newcastle since arriving in January 2019 and, like Wilson, he is off the charts in terms of PSR calculations. Any price Newcastle can sell him for will be almost pure profit, although there will be a temptation to keep him as an experienced and reliable player, especially if Newcastle are in Europe next season.
However, Almiron was kept out by Jacob Murphy on his return from a knee injury and, at 30, looks like another who could be moved with a younger upgrade desired.
Verdict: To leave
At times he has been unfairly made a scapegoat, but there is also an argument that if Newcastle want to regularly challenge for a top six finish and qualify for the Champions League again, Longstaff will not be good enough to take them until then. if he is playing with the same regularity as he has this season.
Italy international Sandro Tonali, who was signed last summer to replace Longstaff in the starting XI before being banned for 10 months for breaking playing rules, will be available next season and Joe Willock will also be back from injury.
With Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley also breaking into the starting line-up after coming through the academy, Longstaff is vulnerable. He also only has one year left on his contract and is 26 years old. He would be a great signing for many Premier League clubs. Play-off finalists Leeds United have already shown interest.
As a local player, any fee he receives would represent pure profit in a PSR world, which makes selling him even more tempting. However, if Newcastle are in Europe next season (they need Manchester City to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final), they will probably need to keep him to adhere to UEFA’s local player rules.
Howe also likes to have as many Geordies in the squad as possible, but if there is an offer, Newcastle will have to consider it.
Verdict: Uncertain
Martin Dubravka
The Slovak was the starting goalkeeper for five months of the season due to a shoulder injury to England international Nick Pope, one of the reasons why results in the second half of the season were not as good as those in the first. There is no doubt that the team was much less secure defensively and he does not make enough contributions to define results.
He is inferior to Pope as both a goalkeeper and a goalkeeper and Newcastle are already looking at potential targets for the goalkeeper this summer.
There is huge interest in Ramsdale from Arsenal and a deal is being explored. Ramsdale played for Howe and Bournemouth and is six years younger than Pope.
Scouts have been watching Valencia goalkeeper Mamardashvili over the past two years and the Georgia international could also come in as a direct competitor to Pope rather than as a backup. it’s time for Dubravka to move on. He didn’t do enough to stay, even though he was second choice.
Verdict: To leave
Newcastle are convinced that if no one activates the Brazilian international’s £100m release clause before the end of June, they will not sell the midfielder this summer. This is unlikely to dissuade potential suitors who could test that decision with bids below the £100m mark in the hope that it will upset the 26-year-old.
Speculation over the player’s future is expected to last throughout the summer, but the club appears increasingly confident, both publicly and privately, that Bruno intends to stay for at least another season. Sources insist that there was no investigation of any kind at this stage.
He is already a member of the Brazilian national team and does not need to move to improve his international ambitions. He is on Manchester City’s list of transfer targets but is not considered a priority this summer and the asking price is prohibitive.
Verdict: To stay
The message could not be more definitive. Isak will not be for sale this summer. He has four years on his contract and the club is already talking about a contract extension under better conditions. He is seen as absolutely crucial to their future plans and Howe wants to build the team’s attacking play around the Sweden international.
Sources said Telegraph sport they laughed off claims in the media that they would be willing to sell for £90m, insisting it would take twice as much for them to pick up the phone and discuss the matter. Isak is admired at Arsenal but unless they try to force a departure this summer he will not leave. Even if he starts to get agitated, Newcastle say they will convince him to stay and the player has publicly expressed how happy he is on Tyneside.
Verdict: To stay
The first signing of the new era upon arriving in January 2022, the English international is captain of the national team and is considered by many fans to be the best right-back to have ever played for the club. But is his time coming to an end? Howe won’t want to lose him, but Trippier was pursued by Bayern Munich earlier this year and could he also be on the Saudi Premier League’s wanted list?
At 33, he can’t last forever, but if other experienced players are sold it will be difficult to see Trippier go too. But not as unthinkable as it was a year ago.
Verdict: Uncertain
