Ryan Fraser staying is the big shock of Newcastle’s January transfer window

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On a day that saw comings, goings and a date at Wembley secured, Ryan Fraser remained at Newcastle United.

January 31st was a drama-filled 24 hours for the Magpies, and a day that was expected to be the Scotland international’s final one as a Toon player.

After Eddie Howe’s side advanced to the Carabao Cup final, a flurry of late departures were announced. Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest. Karl Darlow to Hull City. Jay Turner-Cooke to Tranmere Rovers.

But there was no news about Fraser, despite the 28-year-old not being at St James’ Park for the game against Southampton.

That led to speculation that a late move away from Tyneside could be on the horizon, but the transfer window is now closed and Fraser remains a Newcastle player.

Ryan Fraser looked certain to leave Newcastle in January

Out of all the players in Newcastle’s squad heading into January, Fraser looked like the most likely to leave. It was reported that he wanted to move on due to a lack of minutes, and that the club were happy for him to go.

There was interest from Southampton and Brentford, while he was even offered to Everton according to reports. Elsewhere, there was speculation that he could follow Darlow on loan to Hull.

But that didn’t happen, and Fraser is now facing up to the prospect of limited first-team minutes for the rest of the season. He was already struggling to play before January, and now Newcastle have got stronger in his position.

The arrival of Anthony Gordon pushes Fraser further down the pecking order. The £45million man will have ambitions of becoming a regular starter in Eddie Howe’s side.

Newcastle’s number 21 is now in an unenviable position. Howe has stated that he would ‘love‘ to see the little man play for the club again, but that feels incredibly unlikely.

Fraser has not played a competitive game for Newcastle since October, and has rarely featured on the bench since the World Cup. His absence made a move away look imminent, but that has not happened.

Forget failing to sign a midfielder or Gordon arriving for mega money, the biggest shock of the January transfer window for Newcastle is that Fraser is still at the club.