STEVEN TAYLOR has quit Newcastle United, after Rafael Benitez made the biggest call since agreeing to stay on at St James’ Park.

Benitez was happy for Taylor to be handed a new one-year contract but was reluctant to give him an extended deal on his lucrative Premier League terms following relegation.

But Taylor indicated a willingness to move on and try a fresh challenge, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Rangers’ chief Mark Warburton both known to be interested in offering him a new challenge. Hull City have previously liked the player.

The centre-half, a free agent at the end of this month, is unlikely to earn the sort of money he is on at Newcastle after an injury-ravaged few years which have prevented him from finding top gear.

The former England Under-21 international has only made ten appearances in each of the last three Premier League seasons and he has struggled to hold down his place when fit.

Taylor said: “It'll be a huge wrench to leave Newcastle but I've been offered exciting opportunities both in the UK and abroad and I'm really looking forward to my next challenge.

“I've loved my time at Newcastle. I'll always be a huge fan of the club and I'll be returning to St James’ Park as a supporter whenever I can.”

Taylor, 30, joined Newcastle as an academy player when he was aged just ten and made his first-team debut in Mallorca in March 2004, less than a year after being handed his first professional deal.

Benitez is keen to make adjustments to the squad ahead of a return to the Championship and Taylor’s exit will free up further space on the wage budget following the departures of Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux.

Newcastle will also hold discussions with Argentina’s San Lorenzo in the hope of offloading captain Fabricio Coloccini. If the skipper leaves then more than £120,000-a-week will have been saved offloading that quartet.

Benitez said: "Steven has been a very good player for this club for a long time and his character and personality has always been very positive, including during difficult times. I would like to thank Steven for his service and I wish him well for his future.”

But Benitez, who would prefer to keep France’s Euro 2016-bound midfielder Moussa Sissoko, is also willing to listen to offers for a number of other players.

Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum, interesting Everton, is one who could be sold if Newcastle do not take a hit on the £14.5m paid to PSV Eindhoven last summer. The attacking midfielder is not offering any guarantees about his future.

Wijnaldum said: “Every day I am being asked about my future, not just by journalists, but also by my friends and family.

“My first focus is the national team and then after the holidays I’ll see what happens. I’m working on it, but it’s not easy.”

One player who will not be leaving is Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu. The 21-year-old’s contract has been extended by a further two years.

Mbabu joined the Magpies from Servette in January 2013 and he made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in September. His Premier League debut followed and he was outstanding in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

Newcastle have agreed new professional contracts with Macaulay Gillesphey, Liam Smith and Tom Heardman. Professional deals have also been offered to teenagers Stefan Broccoli, Kyle Cameron, Liam Gibson, Brendan Pearson and Callum Williams.

Academy players Luke Charman, Jamie Holmes, Jack Hunter, Sean Longstaff, Michael Newberry, Ben Smith, Dan Ward and Paul Woolston have been given extended scholarships.

Leaving Newcastle from the academy crop are Jamie Cobain, Louis Johnson, Adam Laidler, Ben Pollock, Lewis Suddick and Jake Trodd. Pollock has agreed to sign for Hartlepool United.