Sandro Tonali, Eddie Howe & Tino Livramentoplaceholder image
Sandro Tonali, Eddie Howe & Tino Livramento | Getty Images
Newcastle could lose nine key players in the summer transfer window - we look at who could leave the club in the coming months.
While Newcastle aren’t quite out of the running for a European spot just yet, a pair of crushing recent defeats to Barcelona and Sunderland suggest that the season is still more than likely to end in disappointment for Eddie Howe’s side – and a busy summer could lie ahead.
Not only do Newcastle need to add reinforcements and upgrades right across the pitch when the transfer window opens, but they face the very real prospect of losing a number of first-team players to rival sides at the end of the season. We’ve taken a look at the nine players currently rumoured to be targets for other teams – and how much money the Magpies might make from their sales.
Three midfielders could leave as rivals target Bruno Guimarães & Sandro Tonali
Perhaps the biggest worry for Newcastle heading into the off-season is the possibility that their starting midfielders get picked off by rivals – with Sandro Tonali’s future, in particular, a source of constant speculation.
While reports suggesting that Arsenal had made a bid at the end of the January transfer window proved to be false, the Gunners could still be a suitor this summer with Mikel Arteta believed to be a long-time admirer. Manchester United have been linked with the Italian as well, as have almost every elite side in Serie A.
None of that proves that Tonali will leave, and Newcastle seem keen to keep hold of him – so much will rest on whether the player himself elects to push for a move. A recent report from The Metro suggests that the asking price is likely to be £80m, which may well be enough to keep him at St. James’ Park, but there are no guarantees.
There could also be interest in Bruno Guimarães. Manchester United have recently been linked with a surprise bid, which could set them back around £60m. As it stands, the Brazilian seems happy to remain on Tyneside, but if United push hard for a move then their interest could prove difficult to ignore.
To compound the problem, several sides are monitoring Joe Willock, including Crystal Palace and Fulham, who had a bid of around £20m rejected at the end of the winter window. With so much interest in Newcastle’s midfielders, there may be a rebuild in store.
Newcastle defenders and attackers could depart this summer
Regardless of who might leave the club this summer, a defensive rebuild of sorts is certainly on the cards – not least because veteran full-back Kieran Trippier is set to depart on a free transfer when his contract winds down at the end of June.
Trippier’s departure is not necessarily a dire emergency in its own right, but a bigger issue surrounds the future of Tino Livramento, who is believed to be a major target for Manchester City. A £70m price tag has been floated in recent reports, with Arsenal also seen as potential contenders. Newcastle don’t wish to sell, but as with Tonali and Guimarães, their arm could easily be twisted by a sufficiently large cheque.
It’s also doubtful, as it stands, that Newcastle will move to retain on-loan goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Newcastle have shown interest in looking at alternatives, including James Trafford and Robin Risser, and that could spell the end of Ramsdale’s brief spell at St. James’.
There could be movement up front, too. Anthony Gordon is reportedly wanted by Liverpool – with the Liverpool Echo recently reporting continued interest from Anfield – as well as Arsenal and Manchester United. Such a deal would be expensive, however, with Newcastle likely to demand at least £80m. The odds are, perhaps, in favour of his remaining in the North East for now.
There will also be questions over the future of Nick Woltemade, who has struggled to sustain early form at Newcastle and is being monitored by several sides in Germany, while Caught Offside recently claimed that Chelsea are interested too. That seems a little unlikely, but if a side like Bayern Munich was willing to stump up anything like the £65m that Newcastle paid for Woltemade’s services last summer, he is likely to leave. As it stands, we would be unsurprised if that was too rich for any interested parties’ blood.
Finally, there will be continued speculation over the future of young back-up forward William Osula, who nearly moved to Eintracht Frankfurt over the winter. A £30m package was floated for the striker over the winter, and there is every chance that Newcastle could cash in despite a recent run in the starting side.
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