Newcastle United contracts: Fabian Schar’s future at St James’ Park remains undecided heading into the final weeks of the season.
Over the international break, the club confirmed that Kieran Trippier would be leaving when his contract expires on June 30.
So far, there have been no updates on Newcastle’s other out-of-contract players, all of whom will be free to leave the club unless a new deal is agreed.
After Trippier, Schar is the most notable out-of-contract player in Newcastle’s first-team squad. The 34-year-old defender has played over 250 times for the Magpies and is regularly lauded as one of the club’s best-ever signings, having joined from Deportivo La Coruna in 2018 for just £3million.
But the club now risks losing him for nothing in the summer unless a new deal can be agreed. Both parties are understood to be open to a new deal, but Schar’s recent injury troubles have been an unwanted complication.
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Fabian Schar injury blows
The Swiss centre-back hasn’t featured for Newcastle for over three months following an ankle injury which required surgery. While he was expected to return from that injury this month, Schar has since suffered a setback in his recovery that will push his return back by another month.
“Fabian, unfortunately, suffered an infection in his foot,” Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe explained. “So, he's been in hospital having a very small operation to get that cleaned out. So, he won't return for around a month, we think.
“So, that's bad news on him.”
Newcastle United out-of-contract players
Trippier, Schar, Emil Krafth, Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy are Newcastle’s out-of-contract players this summer. But with a lack of certainty regarding the fitness of both Schar and Krafth as well as what competitions the club will be playing in next season, only Trippier’s future has been decided.
It is understood that if Newcastle qualify for Europe, Schar and Krafth would likely be offered new deals. But both players could still seek opportunities elsewhere with the view to more regular first-team football.
But first, they will have to get back to full fitness and prove their value to the side.
“No update on any other contract situation for us,” Howe told The Gazette. “Lots of unknowns for us going forward. So we'll make those decisions when we do.”
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