There has been a feeling all season that this Newcastle United team is nearing the end of its sell-by date, with Eddie Howe needing to move players and find upgrades this summer to continue their progress towards a consistent top-six team.
Like most Premier League clubs, Newcastle has concerns about profits and sustainability and will need to sell to fund 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 all been discussed in recruitment meetings and fit the age profile of players Newcastle would like to sign. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Valencia’s highly rated stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili have been extensively scouted, but there is also a focus at the moment on signing players.
Some popular figures could be heading for the exit this summer. Telegraph Sports looks at some of those who could have played their last game for the club.
Callum Wilson
The England international, 33 next February, has had another injury-marred season and there are serious doubts about retaining 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 played just 26 games this season, which is about average for him.
He’s not getting any younger and, crucially, there could be a market to sell. It is understood there have been tentative discussions with clubs in Saudi Arabia who would be interested in signing a player who, when fit, has been a regular in the England squad as a back-up to Harry Kane.
Howe has fought to keep a striker he has known since signing him from Bournemouth a decade ago, but he is also acutely aware of the financial constraints and the need to sell.
Interestingly, after seeing Wilson return to the starting line-up with a goal against Burnley just over a fortnight ago, Howe was adamant he wanted to keep him, but when he subsequently missed a further two games against Brighton and Manchester United, he is much less candid in his statements. that opinion and avoided answering questions about his future.
There aren’t many better strikers in the Premier League than Wilson when he’s fit and replacing him will be expensive and risky considering he still scored 10 goals last season and is second in the all-time Premier League scoring charts, behind Alan Shearer. .
Of all the tough choices to be made, this is the one that will probably 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, then that’s it case. smart business and will help the recruitment budget immensely considering 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.
Pronunciation: To leave
Miguel Almirón
The writing seems to be on the wall for the Paraguayan international who almost left for Saudi Arabia in January. Newcastle are certainly looking for a new right winger this summer and 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 books when it comes to PSR calculations. Whatever Newcastle can sell him for will be almost pure profit, although the temptation will be to keep him as an experienced and reliable squad player, especially if Newcastle play in Europe next season.
However, Almiron was left out of the squad by Jacob Murphy upon his return from a knee injury and at 30 years of age he looks like someone else who could be moved out with a desired youngster upgrade.
Pronunciation: To leave
He has been unfairly scapegoated at times, but there is also an argument that if Newcastle want to regularly challenge for a top six place and re-qualify for the Champions League, Longstaff will not be good enough to take them there. if he plays as regularly as he has this season.
Italy international Sandro Tonali, signed last summer to replace Longstaff in the starting XI before his 10-month ban for breaching betting 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 first team after coming through the academy, Longstaff is vulnerable. He also only has one year left on his contract and is 26. He would be a good signing for many Premier League clubs. Play-off finalists Leeds United have already expressed interest.
As a homegrown player, any fee received for him would represent pure profit in a PSR world, which makes selling him even more tempting. However, if Newcastle play in Europe next season (they need Manchester City to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final), they would probably have to keep him to adhere to UEFA rules for homegrown players.
Howe is also keen to have as many Geordies in the squad as possible, but if an offer comes in, Newcastle will have to consider it.
Pronunciation: Insecure
Martin Dubravka
The Slovak was first-choice 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 the first. There is no doubt that the team was much less secure defensively and that he did not make enough result-defining contributions.
He is inferior to Pope both as a shot-stopper and as a sweeper keeper, and Newcastle are already eyeing potential goalkeeping targets this summer.
There is strong interest in Arsenal’s Ramsdale and a deal is being explored. Ramsdale played for Howe and Bournemouth and is six years younger than Pope.
Scouts have been monitoring Valencia goalkeeper Mamardashvili for the past two years and the Georgian international could also come in as direct competition for Pope rather than as a back-up. it’s time for Dubravka to move on. He hasn’t done enough to stay even if he is second choice.
Pronunciation: To leave
Newcastle are confident that if no one activates the Brazil international’s £100million release clause before the end of June, they will not sell the midfielder this summer. This is unlikely to deter potential suitors who could test that decision with bids under £100m in the hope it unsettles the 26-year-old.
Speculation about the player’s future is likely to continue throughout the summer, but the club is sounding increasingly confident, both publicly and privately, that Bruno intends to stay for at least one more season. Sources insist there is no investigation at this stage.
He is already a regular in the Brazilian team and does not need to move to realize his international ambitions. He is on a list of transfer targets at Manchester City but is not considered a priority this summer and the asking price is prohibitive.
Pronunciation: Stay
The message couldn’t be more definitive. Isak is not for sale this summer. He has a four-year contract and the club is already talking about an extended contract on better terms. 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 have said so Telegraph Sports they have laughed at media claims that they would be willing to sell for £90m, claiming it would cost double that to even get them to pick up the phone and talk about it. Isak is admired by Arsenal but unless he tries to force a move this summer, he won’t be leaving. Even if he gets annoyed, Newcastle say they will persuade him to stay and the player has publicly stated how happy he is on Tyneside.
Pronunciation: Stay
The England international, who was the first signing of the new era when he arrived in January 2022, is team captain and is considered by many supporters to be the best right-back to have played for the club. But has his time come to an end? Howe doesn’t want to lose him, but Trippier was chased by Bayern Munich earlier this year and could he also be on a Saudi Premier League wanted list?
At 33, he can’t go on forever, but if other experienced players are sold, it’s hard to see Trippier leaving too. Yet it is not as unthinkable as it was a year ago.
Pronunciation: Insecure