Newcastle United fans were forced to endure another lacklustre January transfer window due to PSR restrictions.
The Magpies have had an impressive season on the pitch so far, but off it seems like a different story. Newcastle United’s summer transfer window was tainted by the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively.
While Anderson’s sale generated pure profit for the club, Minteh’s departure was a bigger blow as he looked set to play a big part in Toon boss Eddie Howe’s plans for the season – both players are now performing to a great standard at their new clubs.
Lloyd Kelly was sold to Juventus on deadline day, Newcastle are set to bag around £20m from the deal when it becomes permanent in the summer. Elsewhere, Miguel Almiron left Newcastle for Atlanta United after six years on Tyneside.
The pair’s departures free up some much-needed space on Newcastle’s wage bill, which should allow sporting director Paul Mitchell to hand Alexander Isak a new, improved contract.
After disappointment in the transfer window, it is now clear what Mitchell must focus on for the rest of the season.
Paul Mitchell must assess Newcastle’s expiring contracts
Newcastle are in a position where several key players who joined the club during the previous ownership are set to leave the club in the summer.
There are a total of eight Newcastle players out of contract at the end of the season including Fabian Schar, who has been a key part of Howe’s first-team squad.
Other names who are out of contract include Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy.
Reports in January suggested that Newcastle have offered Krafth a new deal despite the Swede only playing in three Premier League games this season. The Magpies are also in negotiations with Schar over a new deal.
Elsewhere, Callum Wilson and Martin Dubravka’s deals both expire at the end of the season. Wilson is tipped to return against Arsenal but has struggled with injury problems throughout his whole time at the club.
With his £50,000-a-week plus wages on the line, Mitchell has a big decision to make over his future.
Dubravka looked set to leave Newcastle in January for a move to Saudi Arabia, but Howe convinced the 36-year-old to stay after he became a key player in his squad following Nick Pope’s injury in December.
Newcastle must release players to afford lucrative contracts
While it is important to keep a good number of players in the squad, it has to be balanced with the argument that releasing some players means that Newcastle can afford to offer better contracts to the younger players who have more of a future in the team.
Newcastle want to give Isak a new contract, and the Swede has his own demands that will make him sign. Isak wants to be Newcastle’s highest earner and wear the number nine shirt. It could take releasing an out-of-contract player to give him what he wants.
Elsewhere, Newcastle will soon need to hand the likes of Sandro Tonali or Sven Botman a new deal to keep them at the club for considerably longer.
Botman’s contract is up in 2027 so Newcastle will need to open talks for a new deal in the near future to tie the defender down to the club more long-term.
Newcastle have more time with Tonali as his deal still has three-and-a-half years left, but they could have him for much longer if they act fast.
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