NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe gestures during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on February 14, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Last week, Newcastle United announced that Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Loris Karius, Jeff Hendrick and Kell Watts will all be leaving the club next month following the expiration of their contracts.
In some respects, it’s a ruthless start to our summer, easing the weight of our wage bill and moving on a host of players whose time had come to be moved on, for one reason or another.
However, there is still plenty of players to shift. Either those no longer in Eddie Howe’s plans or players that must be moved on for the sake of FFP rules that threaten to hold back our summer spending.
Starting with three players returning from recent loans, it’s clear that Ryan Fraser, Isaac Hayden and Jamal Lewis will all be made available for transfer.
Fraser earns around £70,000-per-week – the price of signing him on a ‘free’ transfer four years ago – and could seal a permanent move to Southampton after promotion, while Hayden and Lewis may be eyeing Championship moves after returning from spells at QPR and Norwich, respectively.
Then comes Matt Targett; a player we probably regret signing permanently after his solid loan spell. He’s down the pecking order but hasn’t kicked a ball in 2024 after hamstring surgery. Moving him on will be tough based on his huge wags – some claim he takes home a whopping £100,000-per-week – but he will
