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Eddie Howe is facing a 12-player contract headache – with Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson among seven key first teamers in the last year of their deals.
The Newcastle chief is approaching the need for a significant squad rebuild and some ruthless decision making involving anchors of the club’s revival over the last two-and-a-half years.
England Euros star Trippier, 33, heads the long list of players who are within 11 months of being out of contract. They also include Three Lions striker Wilson, club skipper Jamaal Lascelles, defensive pair Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, who are all over 30.
They have all been key leaders of Howe’s squad and played a massive part in Newcastle’s fightback to be challengers at the top of the Premier League. Homegrown midfielder Sean Longstaff, 26, scored eight goals last season including against PSG in the Champions League and could leave on a free next summer, despite being a £25m asset now.
If they were to be allowed to become free agents next summer the club would be losing at a conservative transfer market around £70m in transfer income if the players were sold now.
Howe is a loyal manager to his players, but alongside new Sporting Director Paul Mitchell and CEO Darren Eales, they must also be good sellers.
Eales says the so-called “big 6” clubs made an average profit of £156m on disposal of players (transfer fee minus amortisation costs) over the last three years PSR cycle, while the other 13 brought in £60m profit.
Newcastle’s figure was £12m – excluding the last minute sale of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh who fetched a headline £65m at the end of June.
Swedish international Emil Krafth, 29, and Slovakia keeper Martin Durbavka, 35, are also in their last year. Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis, who are not part of the future, Mark Gillespie the reserve keeper and youngster Joe White are also on the list.
The contract situation represents a problem and an opportunity for Newcastle and Howe, whose future is also uncertain, as England search for a new manager.
Newcastle are likely to seek a balance with some money recouped by immediate sales. Top players leaving next summer free up wages for new signings, as they lower the age profile of the squad.
Howe is likely to push for contract extensions for a handful of the 12 in the coming months, only when the extent of his incoming transfer business is known.
Howe is minded to keep £20m-rated Wilson who offers a guarantee of goals when he is fit, and his future provokes the most debate among fans. A 10 goal-plus a season striker would be expensive to replace.
Trippier attracted interest from Bayern Munich in January and could also be open to a longer term deal elsewhere, with Tino Livramento already established as his challenger and successor
Lascelles’ situation is complicated by his fight back from a serious knee injury and he is due to be fit in November. Dubravka says he wants to hear what plans Eddie Howe has for him when he returns from holiday after the Euros.
While Newcastle want to buy a new right sided centre back, the incumbent, Swiss international Fab Schar has been key to the club’s passing style. He is worth £20m and could be offered a new deal.
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