Newcastle United are still basking in the glow of their Carabao Cup final win but attentions will soon turn to the future.
It still hasn’t completely sunk in for many Newcastle United fans – including hero Dan Burn – that the club’s 70 years of trophy heartbreak are finally over.
The Carabao Cup final was won in sensational fashion by Eddie Howe’s side in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.
Burn’s opening header was followed up by an Alexander Isak strike, with Federico Cheisa’s late consolation only serving to make the closing minutes even more nerve-wracking.
There were remarkable performances across the field from the likes of Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier and every single player will go down in the Newcastle history books.
However, while those three and, Burn and Bruno Guimaraes were showered with praise in the aftermath of the triumph, Fabian Schar’s display has gone slightly under the radar.
The unsung Wembley hero was sensational and Newcastle now need to move to secure his future at St. James’ Park.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Newcastle must secure Fabian Schar to a new contract
The relentless march of football means that Sunday’s unforgettable triumph will soon fade into the rearview and attention will turn towards the future.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
There are international breaks to get through, more Premier League games to play, Champions Leagues to qualify for and, hopefully, trophies to win.
Before too long the season will be over and Howe will have work to do in sorting his squad out for the next campaign.
After a few windows of meagre spending – at least by the levels of what PIF can afford – the manager will no doubt want some backing in the summer so he can take Newcastle to the next level.
With the likes of Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, John Ruddy, Jamal Lewis and Mark Gillespie all out of contract in the summer, there’s likely to be a lot of change.
Fabian Schar’s deal is also coming to an end but he’s one player Newcastle should do everything they can to keep.
True, the Swiss defender turns 34 this year and should be upgraded upon eventually, but he remains fantastic at the back and needs to be kept.
Schar was excellent at Wembley, charging out of the back-line to make challenges, keeping Liverpool’s central players snuffed out and ensuring Newcastle pushed high up the field.
He fits how Howe wants his side to defend perfectly and it won’t be easy to find a replacement who can do it as well. With his contract set to expire soon, Newcastle need to start talks as soon as possible.
Dan Burn should get a new deal but Kieran Trippier may say goodbye
As well as those contracts coming to an end this summer, Newcastle have several big names whose contracts will expire next year at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Emil Krafth and Martin Dubravka, who recently signed one-year extensions, fellow goalkeeper Nick Pope, Trippier and Burn.
While the first three may find themselves moved on by next year if Newcastle can bring in new signings, like the heavily-linked goalkeeper James Trafford, question marks remain over Burn and Trippier.
Both are guaranteed club legends and have played crucial roles in transforming Newcastle but both are now in their 30s and it might be time to move on.
Newcastle fans will no doubt be desperate for Burn to stay and if he continues performing to such a high level consistently then he should.
For Trippier, though, performances like Sunday’s are becoming rarer and he is no longer a starter if Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are fit. It might be approaching the time to say goodbye.