Steve Bruce will be the first, but not the only one. The still Newcastle manager has his days numbered at the head of the English club, but the remodeling that the new owners of the Magpies goes beyond the bench. The Saudi fund that Newcastle has bought has already announced that it will not use all the spending limit on transfers that they are allowed, so making cash with some of the players in the current squad is presented as the first objective of Newcastle’s sports management ahead of the next winter market.
The British newspaper The Sun has made a short list of those who could be the first players to pack the new Newcastle, among whom are Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton. All of them are important players, who in one way or another have played a leading role in Steve Bruce’s plans during the last few seasons, but whose departures could be a breath of fresh air for a team in great need of new faces.
Jamaal Lascelles
The captain of the Magpies, who missed the start of the season due to an injury suffered at the end of last season, would be on the starting ramp according to this media. Although since he recovered he has started in the 5 games he has played, the English defender has been involved in some incidents in the dressing room tunnel, facing a teammate after the Premier League game against Tottenham. Newcastle are currently England’s highest-scoring team, with 19 goals against.
Matt Ritchie
The only one of the footballers included in the list of The Sun that has played every Premier League match to date (8 of 8). However, this media suggests that Ritchie, 32, would be slowing the progression of Jamal Lewis, a footballer for whom the Magpies paid £ 15m and has not yet shown the expected performance. Although the Scottish winger (now lane) is one of the team’s leaders, he would be one of the pieces sacrificed by the board to reshape the squad.
Jonjo Shelvey
He was the first Newcastle player to speak after the purchase of the club by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and, in the interview with Daily MailHe said he wanted to stay and “fight for a place to be part of the project, for those aspirations and goals. I have 18 months left on my contract, so I have to show those responsible what I am “. However, the start of the season has not been as expected for the English midfielder. Shelvey, who came to Newcastle in the 2015/2016 season, has only played 2 games (one as a starter) in the Premier League and aims to discard.
Joelinton
The Brazilian forward is one of the great disappointments of recent seasons at St James’ Park. The Magpies paid £ 40M to Hoffenheim in 2019, but in two seasons (and so far in 2021/2022) they have only scored 8 goals and delivered 7 assists. With attackers Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson established as stars of the team, the 25-year-old striker is the one with the most ballots to leave the club during the next transfer period.
