Three Newcastle United players are set to leave before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month, it has been confirmed.
Manager Rafael Benitez revealed at his media conference at lunchtime on Friday, as quoted by the personal Twitter account of Chronicle correspondent Lee Ryder, that he expects a flurry of late departures.
The Spaniard explained that “two or three” of the younger members of the first team squad could go out on loan, either abroad or to the Championship.
But youngsters may go on loan to the Championship, Rafa said: “Some players can go abroad or to the Championship on loan.
“We have two or three who don’t play enough who could go out on loan." #nufc— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) August 17, 2018
OPINION
Benitez made it clear that the flurry of late-window exits from St James’ Park are set to be younger members of the squad, and not linked-away senior men like Isaac Hayden and Ciaran Clark. There has been speculation that the midfielder and centre-back could join Aston Villa, but Benitez will put a block on that as he does not want to lose any key men following a mixed summer in the transfer market that has left Newcastle with £18million of the money they accrued from sales left unspent. The Newcastle boss will, however, grant exits for the more junior members of his squad in the hope they can get the regular game so vital in their development as they plough their way through the nettles of a professional career. Benitez did not divulge the names of those who could go on temporary deals, but it is highly likely that back-up goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and rarely seen winger Rolando Aarons could be among them.