Newcastle should keep these players if takeover occurs

The potential takeover of Newcastle United has fans dreaming of star players, but who should the club keep on the roster if the oil money does arrive this summer?

Newcastle United are in the process of being sold to Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at least that is what we all think since the club is remaining silent. A new report from Justin Allen (The Sun), the reporter who first broke the news of this takeover, claims that everything could be finalized in the next two weeks. This is exciting since positive news has been hard to come by on Tyneside over the last decade with Mike Ashley in charge.

That being said, let us assume the information reported by Allen is accurate for the sake of this article. Sheikh Khaled would certainly provide Rafa Benitez with a big transfer kitty to purchase some quality players who can take the Magpies from the middle of the pack to the top eight. Obviously, the entire roster would not be on the verge of being sold, but several players would be pushed out the door. In this article, I will look at the current roster to determine who should stay and continue to start for Newcastle United despite the big money coming in.

Keep and Start

Miguel Almiron

• Miguel Almiron is the most obvious name on the roster for keeping and starting if a takeover occurs. He is the most exciting playmaker the Magpies have had since Hatem Ben Arfa. His pace causes major problems down the flank, he can create chances for himself and his ability to set others up is unmatched.

Fabian Schar

• Fabian Schar is undoubtedly the best defender on the roster. In my opinion, he is a true leader who should be the captain of the team. His confrontational style of defending and his ability to get forward as a central defender provides an extra, unexpected spark in every match.

Sean Longstaff

• Sean Longstaff is still developing as a player, but he has the potential to be great. He stepped up for the team in a big way, especially against elite clubs, when his number was called. Team him up with a reliable veteran and the middle of the park is set for the next few seasons.

Ayoze Perez

• Ayoze Perez is a player on the rise. His numbers have improved every season and his confidence was on full display in the second half of last season. Perez is fully capable of scoring between 12 and 15 goals every season, especially with Miguel Almiron’s playmaking abilities on the front-line.