NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to launch a major cull of the club’s fringe performers this summer, with up to half-a-dozen players expected to leave St James’ Park.
John Carver recently confirmed a desire to make a number of additions to the playing squad in the close season, but they will be offset by a similar number of departures, with the anticipated changes not dependent on the identity of the club’s permanent head coach.
Eight members of Newcastle’s current squad are due to become free agents or return to their parent club this summer, and as things stand, there is a strong chance that only a couple will be retained on the Magpies’ books.
Ryan Taylor, Sammy Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez are the most high-profile names on the list of players currently in the final months of their contract, but while all three have been involved in the first-team group in recent weeks, none are understood to have been offered a new deal.
That could change in the next few weeks, with Taylor and Ameobi the most likely to be retained. However, Newcastle’s recruitment team are likely to offer reduced terms, and it remains to be seen whether the duo are willing to accept a wage cut or opt to look elsewhere.
Taylor, who missed the best part of two years with successive cruciate ligament injuries, has expressed a desire to move into coaching at the end of his career, and performed scouting duties during his lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Having only recently returned to action, however, the 30-year-old is keen to extend his playing career as long as possible and is looking for a contract that enables him to concentrate fully on matters on the pitch for at least the next couple of seasons.
Ameobi has started 14 Premier League games this season, and in recent weeks, the 22-year-old has emerged as key member of Carver’s preferred starting line-up.
The return of Siem de Jong and Rolando Aarons will provide increased competition for midfield places, but Carver will recommend Ameobi is retained when he is asked to provide an input into Newcastle’s summer plans.
Gutierrez is much less likely to be offered a new deal, and while his departure would have plenty of emotion attached to it given his successful battle against testicular cancer, he looked to be heading out of St James’ Park prior to the confirmation of his illness and could well return to his native South America at the end of his current deal.
The decision over the rest of the club’s out-of-contract players will be even clearer cut, with Jak Alnwick, Remie Streete and Adam Campbell all set to leave in the close season.
Facundo Ferreyra will not be retained after a hugely unsuccessful loan spell from Shakhtar Donetsk, although Lubo Satka could be offered a new contract after making significant strides in the development squad this season.
Alnwick’s departure was effectively confirmed when he was allowed to join League One side Bradford City on loan earlier this month, and having made a number of high-profile errors after his elevation to Newcastle’s starting line-up earlier this season, the 21-year-old accepts that his time on Tyneside is almost certainly drawing to an end.
“It’s (leaving Newcastle) a possibility,” said Alnwick. “All I am focused on is doing well for Bradford and, in terms of the summer, that won’t be down to me, it will be down to behind the scenes. I will let that take its own course.
“It’s really difficult. I’ve had to wait a few years now – you are looking at two or three injuries, and that’s when you get your chance. It’s really hard.”
Alnwick enjoyed a dream debut when he came off the bench against Chelsea in December, but a bad mistake in the Capital One Cup defeat at Tottenham appeared to knock his confidence and, after Alan Pardew hinted at the possible arrival of a short-term replacement, he was never quite the same player again.
“Most other goalkeepers go out on loan and make their mistakes in League Two, where it is not highlighted as much,” he said. “My first senior game was in the Premier League and everything in the Premier League is highlighted.
“You are going to make mistakes. Every young keeper is going to make mistakes, but it’s all about learning from it and playing more games. My ambition is to be England’s number one, and number one at a Premier League club.”
* Alex Gilliead scored as a youthful Newcastle development side suffered a 4-1 defeat in a behind-closed-doors game at Burnley yesterday afternoon.
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