Five players who could leave Newcastle United in the summer

Rafa Benitez has rotated his squad heavily throughout the 2017/18 Premier League campaign, but next season is a different story.

News of Paul Dummett’s new contract has briefly shifted attention away from the short-term fears of relegation on Tyneside, signalling that the club have been considering the future of its first-team players. Dummett, whilst not the flashiest of players, has earned his new contract through consistent performances and commitment on the pitch, becoming a key figure in Newcastle United’s impressive defense this season.

The Premier League can often seem like a carousel of journeymen, whereby whole squads appear different year upon year. Yet, after studying the contract situation on Tyneside, the Toon have largely secured the foundation of their squad for the foreseeable future. Notwithstanding this, there are certainly areas where Rafa Benitez will be looking to improve, and history tells us that in order to buy, first the Spaniard will have to sell.

Here’s a breakdown of 5 players who could be considered expendable when the next summer transfer market begins:

Joselu

Never Benitez’s first choice in the transfer market at the beginning of the season, Joselu arrived for a modest fee of £5m after a fruitless period at Stoke City. The Spanish striker is Newcastle United’s top goalscorer with four goals in 20 Premier League matches, which is an even worse record when considering the fluke goal he blustered into the net against Liverpool back in October.

The arrival of Islam Slimani should see Joselu relegated from first choice, and even though he signed a contract until 2020 with the Toon, his performances have not been befitting of a Premier League side. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Newcastle move on from the Spaniard in the summer, even if it means taking a minor loss on the initial £5m outlay.