Newcastle United recently confirmed contract extensions for Martin Dubravka and Emil Krafth.
The pair were both in the final years of their contract and looked set to leave in the summer before the announcement – the former also nearly left in January.
Martin Dubravka had transfer interest from Saudi Arabia in the January transfer window and for a large chunk of the month, it looked like his seven-year stint on Tyneside was coming to an end. However, Eddie Howe convinced Dubravka to stay with the promise of more game time.
Dubravka has enjoyed a good run of starts in Newcastle’s starting XI due to Nick Pope’s injury absence. The shot-stopper took the opportunity and ran with it, keeping six clean sheets in his 10 Premier League appearances.
While Emil Krafth has not played as much as he would have liked this season, Howe still wanted to keep him at the club. Sporting director Paul Mitchell hailed Krafth’s versatility as the reason they decided to extend the Swede’s contract. Krafth can play anywhere on the right side of defence, a quality Howe loves.
There are still several players set to leave for free in the summer including Callum Wilson who has only just returned from a second injury setback.
Now, Newcastle could hand another star a new contract after it was announced that he has signed with a new agency.
Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy joins new agency
Toon winger Jacob Murphy has been an unexpected hero in Newcastle’s first-team squad this season. The 29-year-old has 12 goal involvements in the Premier League and was a big part of the Magpies’ fantastic Carabao Cup run.
Murphy has received praise from many sources throughout the campaign including a Newcastle legend. Former Toon striker Alan Shearer called Murphy ‘excellent’ when he named him in a Team of the Week in December.
Gary Lineker called Murphy ‘underrated’ after his sensational performance in the Magpies’ 4-0 win against Ipswich Town, which also saw Alexander Isak bag his first Newcastle hat-trick.
On Friday it was revealed that Murphy had signed for agency Wasserman, a “global football agency representing elite talent across the world.”
As well as Murphy, Wasserman also represents several Newcastle players including Harvey Barnes, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. While Murphy’s Newcastle deal does not run out until 2027 he may feel that the time is right to push for an extension given how well he has performed this season – hence the new agency.
A new deal could see an increase in Murphy’s £35,000-per-week Newcastle wage which sees him take home almost £2m each year.
Newcastle-linked star signs for new agency amid summer move
With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Newcastle are discussing transfer targets internally before preparing a final list.
One player who could be on the list is LOSC Lille star Angel Gomes, who is set to leave the Ligue 1 side for free at the end of the season. Newcastle are linked with Gomes, but the England international has many admirers.
Football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday evening that Gomes had signed with ROOF – who will represent him ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old is free to talk to clubs outside of France now he is in the final six months of his contract. Reports suggest that Newcastle would have to pay Gomes £150,000-per-week to persuade him to move to Tyneside – a fee that would see him become one of the club’s highest earners.
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