Emil Krafth may suddenly have the opportunity to call time on his Newcastle United career during the January transfer window.
The Swedish defender is in the final year of his Newcastle United contract, having signed a one-year extension with the Magpies in February 2025.
Emil Krafth signed up for one more year at St James’ Park, but he has largely spent the 2025/26 season on the periphery so far. His only appearance came as a starter in Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup win over Bradford City.
The 31-year-old could now have a chance to leave, with Danish outlet Bold reporting that FC Copenhagen are interested in signing the man affectionately known as Krafu.
If an offer does arrive in January, it is a chance he must take.
Emil Krafth looks at the camera during a Newcastle United training session.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Emil Krafth should seize opportunity to leave Newcastle United
Krafth’s days as a regular starter at St James’ Park are long gone. The Newcastle United squad has so much depth nowadays that Krafth is further away than ever from Eddie Howe’s starting XI.
As a right-back, he is third choice behind Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier. As a right-sided centre-back, he is fourth choice behind Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles.
So many dominoes need to fall for the Sweden international to feature regularly for Newcastle United, so much so that he should be looking elsewhere.
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Like so many players, Krafth has improved under Eddie Howe. He is capable of being a starter somewhere, just not for a Newcastle United team that are competing in the Champions League and challenging for silverware.
A move to Copenhagen would be a great opportunity at a point in his career when he needs stability and security. He is not getting that on Tyneside, with one-year contract extensions all that have been put on the table.
Newcastle United have Leo Shahar waiting in the wings
If Krafth does leave, Newcastle United already have a player waiting in the wings to step up.
Leo Shahar is close to becoming a senior player at St James’ Park, with the 18-year-old on the fringes of breaking out from the youth setup and becoming a first-team option.
He is destined to have a bright future on Tyneside, but is waiting for his opportunity to rise up the pecking order. Krafth leaving could allow that to happen.
Shahar knows he is improving, and Eddie Howe will see that too. Despite not making his debut, the teenager has regularly trained with the first-team over the past 12 months.
While Howe will likely want to keep Krafth at the club, his replacement is already underneath the nose of the Newcastle United manager.