Journalist Luke Edwards has expressed concern that Newcastle United will have a real issue trying to offload a number of players in the transfer market.
A recent report by Chris Waugh in The Athletic outlined just how many footballers currently with the Magpies don’t look as if their long-term future is with the club. However, due to reasons such as long contracts and high wages, they may not be very easy to sell.
Waugh pointed to somebody like Jeff Hendrick in his article, explaining that the midfielder is a forgotten man on ‘significant’ pay, and the club may have to fund his salary for another two years.
Reacting to the story on Twitter, Edwards said this was a major problem and a hangover from the Mike Ashley regime the new ownership have to ‘urgently’ sort out.
He explained: “This highlights problems #nufc have this summer. They’ve got far too many players they no longer want on inflated wages, with several years remaining on their contracts.
“To be blunt, it’s a mess, not of the new regime’s making, but which they need to clear up urgently.”
Will Newcastle United be stuck with a load of unwanted players next season?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Newcastle…
Part of the problem, as highlighted by the Hendrick situation, is that the Magpies want to get rid of players other clubs won’t want to sign on such high wages.
The aforementioned article also adds Dwight Gayle’s name to the list of senior men who are on ‘sizeable’ contracts. In the striker’s case, he might only be able to draw attention from Championship clubs who could afford a ‘fraction’ of his salary.
One player who could buck this trend is Allan Saint-Maximin. In April, The Athletic claimed that if a £50m-plus offer did arrive for the winger, Newcastle would at least contemplate it.
Of course, this wouldn’t be enough to solve the issue of all the other unwanted squad players, which is why Edwards is so damning with his tweet – he clearly feels as though the club have an awful lot to ‘clear up’ this summer.
With the club tipped to spend big in the coming months, they may well have to offload a number of individuals before any exciting incomings can arrive.