The January transfer window is fast approaching, which is always significant for two reasons; the lack of meaningful transfer activity and excuses that inevitably follow (they’ve already started); also, clubs can start approaching players that are out of contract in the summer. Last season, Mo Diame was the only significant departure, going to Al-Ahli after making 97 appearances for The Magpies.
In no particular order, here are the players who are out of contract this summer, and whether or not they should be awarded a new deal:
Federico Fernandez
Rafa signed Fernandez from Swansea City on deadline day August 2018, reuniting the pair who worked together at Napoli. For a fee of around £5million, this was to prove another one of Rafa’s bargain buys despite Fernandez being a bit too old for the hierarchy’s liking. Now 30, a long term deal is almost certainly out of the question, however, Fernandez’s performances this season which have so far resulted in two goals, definitely deserve a contract extension. For me he is the best defender we’ve got outside of the obvious starting three (Schar, Lascelles, and Lejeune).
Fernandez now seems keen to stay after a frustrating last season, which was spent mainly on the bench. In the absence of the main back three, Fernandez, along with Ciaran Clark, have been rocks in defence this season. I can’t imagine the club would be keen on losing the defender on a free, who has 32 caps for Argentina, as someone of equal ability would be expensive to find.
VERDICT: A player who wants to stay and has been class on the pitch this season. Despite his age, a three year contract extension sounds about right to me.
Matty Longstaff
This one irritates me slightly, at the time of writing; Matty has still not signed a contract extension. Negotiations have been ongoing for around a month now with no breakthrough, which begs the question: How has one of Newcastle’s brightest young talents been allowed to run down his contract? If this isn’t rectified by January then I will be seriously worried he could leave on a free, something the club is not synonymous for, as they normally hand out six year contracts to any young player which an ounce of potential to protect their transfer value.
I hope at the time of reading my anxiousness is misplaced and Matty is tied down for the long term, which is obviously the aim for both sides. You just have to look at the lads face after he scored the winner against Manchester United and the subsequent post-match interview with Brother Sean, that he wants many more years of scoring winners at the Gallowgate end.
VERDICT: Charnley, dust off Mike’s cheque book and get this lad signed on for the long term!
Ki Sung-Yeung
A low key (no pun intended) transfer in the summer of 2018, after his contract expired at relegated Swansea City. Rafa Benitez signed Ki to provide strength in depth in centre midfield. This was before the emergence of the Longstaff brothers, so needless to say, since then Ki has found his opportunities limited. Ki has so far made 21 appearances for Newcastle and hasn’t really contributed anything overly memorable, the highlight being the assist for Ayoze Perez’s winner against Watford, which kick started Newcastle’s season.
Since the arrival of Steve Bruce, Ki has barely had a look in and most weeks can’t even make the bench.
VERDICT: If Ki doesn’t leave in January, he will leave on a free in the summer. The former Sunderland midfielder is one that’s never really been taken to by the Geordie faithful, and I doubt he will be missed.
Javi Manquillo
Now this is a real tricky one! A lot of people were scratching their heads when Rafa signed Manquillo on a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017. He’d previously had loan spells at Liverpool, Marseille, and current mid table league one outfit Sunderland, where he didn’t really do himself any favours on the pitch.
Newcastle were desperately in search for improvement in the right back area last summer, and duly signed Swedish international Emil Krafth. However, Krafth has found life in the Premier League rather tough and hasn’t fully adjusted to life in England either. Krafth’s poor form and injury to DeAndre Yedlin thrust Manquillo back in the first team picture and has been nothing short of superb against Manchester City, Sheffield United, and Southampton. The deceptively quick Spanish Under- 21 international is really giving Bruce a dilemma on his future, as he seemed a dead cert to see his time on Tyneside come to an end.
VERDICT: Tough one, but I think Manquillo will be allowed to leave in the summer if no suitable offer is made for him in January. I think the club see Krafth as the long term first choice, once he’s settled in the area. Manquillo wouldn’t really show progression in the squad were he to stay.
Karl Darlow
Darlow was part of a double deal which included captain Jamal Lascelles in the summer of 2014. Both were loaned back to Nottingham Forest where they were bought from, as part of the deal.
When Darlow eventually got his Newcastle career underway, it didn’t go to plan. After Rob Elliot pulled out during the warm up before United’s fixture against West Brom, Darlow was given a start. Newcastle lost the game 1-0, due to an error from Darlow, letting a header from Darren Fletcher slip through his hands. It could only get better for Darlow, and thankfully it did. After another injury to Elliot, Darlow was placed in the sticks for the rest of the 2015/16 relegation season. One highlight came in Newcastle’s 1-0 home win against Crystal Palace, with Darlow saving a penalty from former toon midfielder Yohan Cabaye.
Darlow continued in the shirt later on the season after too. After Rafa lost patience with Belgian flop Matz Sels, Darlow became first choice keeper and remained so for the majority of the promotion campaign, as well as spells between the sticks in the following Premier League season, until the signing of Martin Dubravka.
VERDICT: I actually like Darlow, but the future of the goalkeeping department has to be Dubravka and Freddie Woodman. Darlow is a solid goalkeeper and teams in the Championship will be queuing for his signature. Don’t be surprised, however, if he is offered an extension.
Rob Elliot
Irish international Elliot has been at the club since 2011! He was signed from Charlton as a back up to Tim Krul, replacing the outgoing Fraser Forster as second choice, who made his loan move to Celtic permanent.
He’s always been seen as a steady and safe pair of hands. A good shot stopper, however, his distribution has always left something to be desired. Like Darlow, Elliot has been out of the picture since United signed Dubravka, and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.
VERDICT: The only way he’s getting back in the first team is a massive injury crisis. He’s now sure to leave the club sooner rather than later. Elliot loves the area, so a free transfer to Middlesbrough or Sunderland seems a logical solution.
Jack Colback
Remember him? The “Ginger Pirlo” isn’t in the 25 man Premier League squad and allegedly refused to go out on another loan. He wasn’t even included in the League Cup squad which lost out on penalties to Leicester City earlier in the season. Colback hasn’t featured for Newcastle since the return to the Premier League and rumours are his contract will be cancelled in January.
VERDICT: This one is simple. If his contract isn’t cancelled in January he will be leaving in the summer. For a more in depth look at Colback’s Newcastle career, check out my earlier column “The Rise and Fall of Jack Colback”.