Malcolm Macdonald believes that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is the one reason why the club cannot afford to risk selling mainstay Jonjo Shelvey this month.
The Express has reported on Sunday that West Ham are set to return with a renewed offer for the midfielder, but Macdonald reckons that because Ashley cannot be trusted, Shelvey cannot be sold any time soon.
He says that the money generated from the sale of Alexsandar Mitrovic to Fulham should have been handed to Rafa Benitez to find a replacement, something which did not happen – and he thinks the same would happen if Shelvey was sold too.
“Some would be aghast and say United’s playmaker cannot be allowed to leave under any circumstances. A case could be made to sell him and buy someone more effective – possibly like Miguel Almiron who is apparently so admired by so many at SJP including Rafa Benitez,” he said in his Chronicle column.
“All well and good…until you add in the Mike Ashley factor and everything changes. Because we’ve seen it all before – during the last transfer window as it happens.
“United controversially sold striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for between £20m and £27m after a successful loan spell at Fulham with everyone expecting the money to be handed over to United’s manager to buy a replacement.
“Except that it wasn’t. It was kept and consequently United made a profit in the transfer market – and laid the foundations for this season’s prolonged relegation struggle. In other words Ashley cannot be trust[ed]. Almiron for Shelvey wouldn’t be a done deal. So the Shelvey sale dare not be risked.”
OPINION
It is safe to say that a lot of Newcastle fans would agree with Macdonald here. Shelvey is too prized an asset to sell, but that has not stopped the club sanctioning the sales of good players in the past, most recently Mitrovic. The money generated from that sale was not put to good use in the summer transfer window, instead it was used to make a profit. Who is to say that would not happen if Newcastle were to green-light the exit of Shelvey? He would no doubt need to be replaced with someone suitable if he went, but if the money from a potential sale is not given to Benitez, how can he be expected to do that? That is why it is too risky to sell him, just as Macdonald pointed out. Shelvey is much better off staying at Newcastle for the time being – not only for his ability, but because the club would be financially better off for it.