Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey looks likely to leave the club in the next transfer window despite being reassured of his future by Rafa Benitez, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper reports on their website that the 27-year-old is likely to depart in the summer after falling down the pecking order at St James’ Park recently, something which led him to ask to play for the under-23s on Friday in order to get minutes under his belt.
The report adds that West Ham are likely to test Newcastle by making an offer for him this summer after he was linked with a move in January.
OPINION
If Shelvey did end up leaving the club, you could not really blame him, could you? His injuries have not helped him in the slightest, and it may have led some to question whether he would be in situation he is in now if it were not for those setbacks. They have happened, and now he is having to deal with the consequences of it. Benitez had no choice but to select other players to take his place – and seeing as he endured further setbacks to his midfield, the decision to throw Longstaff in was a bit of a risk. Now that he is impressing for Newcastle, who would Benitez be to suddenly drop him just because other players are now available. Unfortunately for Shelvey, times have now moved on, and that is something that he will now have to accept – and if West Ham come calling in the summer, he should grasp the opportunity with both hands.