Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is set to revamp his squad ahead of their return to the Premier League. Here are four players that could leave this summer.
In the Summer transfer window of 2016, Newcastle sold many of their first team players and replaced them with top Championship level talent. Ten months later the Geordies are Champions of England’s second tier and the window is viewed as a success.
However, this time around the Geordies have a number of first-team players who just aren’t cut out for the Premier League and will likely be shipped out.
1. Jack Colback
Colback was once deemed the “Ginger Pirlo” after an impressive first season at Newcastle. Colback signed from local rivals Sunderland on a free transfer and looked to be a decent signing for the Toon Army. However, this season, in particular, the midfielder has made countless mistakes and some regularly took to Twitter to post about Colback’s below-par performances.
2. Grant Hanley
The Scotsman has been overshadowed by Ciaran Clark this season and has only made 10 appearances in the Championship this season. It looks like Newcastle will look to bolster their defensive options and Hanley will be set for a move away from the club. Hanley’s likely option looked to be Derby County who had tabled a ยฃ4million bid. However, since Derby signed Curtis Davies from Hull for ยฃ500,000. A move for the Newcastle defender looks off the cards.
Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley's move to Derby County now in doubt https://t.co/1U9XvdL6ZC #NUFC
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) June 7, 2017
You will be hard pressed to find a Championship team who can afford Hanley’s fee. Meanwhile, Norwich and Reading both struggled defensively last season and may look to Hanley to improve their back-line.
3. Daryl Murphy
Probably the simplest of situations out of these four players. Newcastle need more quality up-front and Murphy will likely move back to a Championship team. This week the likes of QPR and Cardiff have been linked but I believe a return to Ipswich Town would be Murphy’s preferred destination.
4. Aleksandar Mitrovic
From the simplest situation to perhaps the most complicated. Mitrovic is loved by the Newcastle faithful but his form in front of goal has been poor. Six goals in 29 appearances simply is not good enough in the Championship. With the Toon looking at other strikers, the 22-year old has been linked with loan moves to Turkey and Newcastle fans will hope a move will help the Serbian find the clinical touch he once had in Belgium at Anderlecht.
#NUFC LIVE: Besiktas keen on Mitrovic and Semedo looks likely to move to Spain. Latest in the blog. https://t.co/JnVSoRCA2o
— The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) June 6, 2017
Summary – Here’s the four players who could leave, their possible destinations and Newcastle’s rumoured replacements.
Player Name | Where could he go? | Rumoured replacement |
Jack Colback | Leeds United | Gabriel Pires – Legunes |
Grant Hanley | Norwich City | Florian Lejeune – Elbar |
Daryl Murphy | Ipswich Town | Tammy Abraham – Chelsea |
Aleksandar Mitrovic | Besiktas | Callum Wilson – Bournemouth |