The Magpies have issued their retained list following the end of the season, with Jamal Lewis and Lloyd Kelly the only senior players definitely leaving the club.
Kelly’s transfer to Italian side Juventus, which was initially a loan deal, will become a permanent transfer on June 30. The transfer will be worth €17.5m, meaning Newcastle have made a healthy profit on a player who moved to St James’ Park as a free agent last summer.
Lewis spent the first half of last season on loan at Brazilian side Sao Paulo before an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Northern Ireland forced him to make a premature return to England. The full-back’s contract expires at the end of the month and Newcastle have opted not to offer him a new deal.
Wilson and Ruddy are also due to become free agents this month, but Newcastle officials continue to hold talks with the duo.
Wilson, who turned 33 in February, has been offered a new deal on reduced terms, which are understood to contain a significant pay-as-you-play element. The striker suffered a succession of injury problems last season that meant he only made two Premier League starts.
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Ruddy did not make a single senior appearance after joining Newcastle as a free agent last summer, but Eddie Howe values the 38-year-old’s experience and leadership qualities.
A Newcastle statement said: “Callum Wilson and John Ruddy are set to be out of contract at the end of June, however the club has opened discussions with both players about their futures and new contracts could still be agreed.”
Newcastle have been linked with a move for their former goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, following his release from Tottenham. As a former academy product, Forster would fill one of the homegrown player slots within the Magpies’ Champions League squad for next season.
However, the Magpies have opted to extend Gillespie’s stay by triggering a clause within his existing contract. The 33-year-old is also an academy product, having started his career in Newcastle’s youth set-up before heading to Carlisle United. He rejoined Newcastle in 2020 and has made three senior appearances for the club.
Newcastle’s statement said: “All other first-team players are retained, with an option activated to retain goalkeeper Mark Gillespie following recent contract extensions for Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Dan Burn.”