HARIS VUCKIC does not expect to be a Newcastle United player beyond the end of the season, despite still having another year of his St James’ Park contract to run.

Having moved to Rangers on loan in January, Vuckic scored his sixth goal in 13 matches for the Glasgow side as they beat Championship winners Hearts at the weekend.

Four of the five loan players sent to Ibrox have barely featured for their new temporary employers, with Remie Streete, Gael Bigirimana, Kevin Mbabu and Shane Ferguson making a grand total of one appearance between them since heading north of the border.

Vuckic, on the other hand, has proved a success in Rangers shirt, and with Newcastle’s recruitment team preparing for a major summer overhaul, the Slovenian forward has accepted that his time on Tyneside is almost certainly at an end.

“I know I won’t be at Newcastle next season,” he said. “But I am not sad because I am focused on getting Rangers back into the top league.”

Rangers’ perilous financial position means they are unable to make too many firm plans until they know what league they will be playing in next summer.

They are currently favourites to join Hearts in the Scottish Premier League via the play-offs, and Vuckic admits the prospect of representing Rangers in the top-flight is something that appeals.

“If we achieve promotion, then I hope I’m around next season for the new challenge,” he said. “It is up to Rangers, but I am ready to sign up. To score against Celtic is my ambition.”

Streete is likely to be released at the end of the season when his contract expires, and Newcastle will also attempt to offload Bigirimana, Mbabu and Ferguson, all of whom boast at least another season on their current deals.

The Magpies could move on up to ten players this summer, with Ryan Taylor, Sammy Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez all sweating over their futures as the end of their contract draws near.

The trio are all due to become free agents at the end of June, and as things stand, none have been offered a new deal on Tyneside.

Despite their reluctance to splash the cash in previous transfer windows, Newcastle’s recruitment team will surely have to make a number of signings this summer, with a new centre-half and striker a priority.

French media sources claim there is interest in Nantes centre-half Papy Djilobodji, a 27-year-old Senegal international who is valued at around £4m.