The Magpies face a huge summer of buying and selling, but some big-names will leave St James' Park
Newcastle?s Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Newastle will need to buy and sell top players this summer
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Almost a year ago Geordies across our landscape were thrown into deep depression at the thought of their 27-goal one-man strike force Alexander Isak leaving Newcastle United after scoring the winning goal that ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.
It seemed unthinkable - a rich organisation which had hoovered up a string of stars since their takeover were about to become a selling club.
How could anyone want out when United had just won the Carabao Cup at Wembley with a spectacular display and qualified for the Champions League? We had everything we had dreamed about . . . yet here was the Main Man wanting away so badly he went on strike to force the hand of his paymaster.
That Isak was successful in a bitter war that destroyed his reputation on Tyneside forever wasn't compensated by the £130m Liverpool coughed up to spirit him to the Mersey. We wasted it anyway.
No, Isak's shuddering departure ruined this season before it started and has continued to do so.
Now Geordies are facing the shocking thought has such a depressing fact could become a regular occurrence. That after a season of winning not a thing, not even sympathy, and with Champions League football confined to history other blue-chip players will follow him over the Tyne Bridge encouraged by the fact that Isak forced it to happen.
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I have been stating for yonks now that we will lose a couple of so-called superstars and nothing that has filtered down the grapevine makes me feel any different.
United face a summer of rebuilding and that will include selling big and reinvesting.
That being so who would we be prepared to sacrifice without going into another period of mourning?
Well, let me start from the other end of the spectrum. Who I don't want to leave at any cost. Captain Bruno and Lewis Hall are two who jump immediately to mind. Two players of international ability but, just as important, two with a wonderful attitude and commitment to our cause.
They care and no one can doubt it. You only have to watch how they play. Their body language tells you that and a lot more. So they stay for me.
After that what? Well I would have liked to think that Sandro Tonali feels he owes Geordies and the club itself for their unwavering support during his 10-month ban for illegal betting. He wasn't thrown to one side or unloved just because we temporarily lost him so soon after United had committed a barrow load of cash in transfer fee and wages to bring him over from Italy. Neither party felt let down, rather they sought means to show their understanding and loyalty.
Even Italy legend Marco Materazzi has urged Tonali to remember what Newcastle did for him.
However with most players loyalty never replaces ambition in the cut-throat world of football where a career is short and time waits for no man. When it comes to the crunch a convenient excuse is sought for strapping on the parachute and bailing out and United stars will have a big one come the summer: no Champions League football so goodnight!
Man United are the latest club to be strongly linked with Tonali and the thrust and parry looks a lot like that which surrounded Isak back in the day. His agent says one thing, Newcastle categorically deny it as they did with Alexander The Grate, and what happens? He goes.
As for Tino Livramento I saw him and Hall as the David Craig and Frank Clark of the modern United when they first came together and said so. They could be the Magpies' two full-backs for the next decade.
Tino is a Rolls Royce of a player but he may have had his head turned by Manchester City in particular. We don't know but he has shelved discussions on a new contract and in the last couple of games he has looked pre-occupied leading to a couple of big mistakes that conceded goals.
I want him to stay, make no mistake about it, but if he becomes determined to go then I would reluctantly accept it more than I would his partner on the other flank.
Now I move on to the one I would miss the least in a forced divorce. Anthony Gordon.
Oh, he's talented all right. He is quality, a speedy vibrant attacker. But there has been a suspicion around him for a while. To me he doesn't look a happy bunny like he did shortly after breaking into the team and hitting the full throttle button.
Anthony burned his bridges with the faithful at Everton and hasn't seemed quite the same guy here that he was before his home town club Liverpool came in for him and he thought he was on his way to Isak's eventual destination.
If it comes to the worst with Gordon we at least have another current England international left winger in Harvey Barnes and will hopefully be signing a centre-forward come the reopening of the transfer window.
I repeat I want no big name to leave. I really don't. I want them all to stay and help us back to where we ought to be but I only want them if they want us. And I know they all won't swear allegiance.
FOOTNOTE: I am delighted to report that Newcastle United Legends raised a fabulous £9,200 for the Tiny Lives Trust through their recent dinner featuring NUFC icon Shay Given at Gosforth Park.
Terry Sweeney and Les Hancock are the inspirational driving force behind Newcastle United Legends, ably supported by a generous sponsor Baltic Mortgage.
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