With a lack of impact this season, this trio could be making their final stand at Newcastle United next year.
There is an expected roster turnover coming after this season for Newcastle United. The prospective new owners want to bring in world-class players to join the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Jonjo Shelvey, and Fabian Schar. While there will be a deserved focus on the incoming players, there are some current players on the roster that may be getting their final chance to make an impression next season.
Starting up top, there are two players that failed to make an impact over the past two seasons: Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto. We all know Gayle’s story. He’s a star striker in the Championship, but his production in the Premier League doesn’t match. In 12 appearances in the league this season, he scored zero goals and tallied just one assist. He also had some glaring misses at crucial times for NUFC.
Muto struggled to get on the pitch this season with only nine total appearances. He scored his lone goal in his appearance in the EFL Cup. Last year, his first campaign with the Magpies, he appeared in 17 EPL matches and only scored once.
For both of these strikers, they will be relying on how the position group is adjusted by signings. If the new owners don’t bring in a big name and want to give Joelinton a chance, Gayle or Muto could get some chances off the bench or in cup action. But, if there is a marquee signing, both players will be frozen out again and would likely look to leave on loan or on a permanent basis.
Gayle’s deal expires after the 2020-21 season, so I’d expect him to be sold to a Championship side this summer. But, Muto could benefit from improved tactics and might get one last season to make an impact.
Another player that is definitely making his last stand for the club is Henri Saivet. He has never made more than four appearances in the league since signing back in January 2016. You may recall his appearance vs. West Ham in 2017-18. He makes a crucial mistake to concede a goal to the Hammers before curling in a free kick to tie the match. That was his only Premier League cap of the season. The second half of that season and the next season, he played consistently in Turkey’s Super Lig with Sivasspor and Bursaspor.
His 29 appearances with two goals and two assists during 2018-19 show that he still can produce. Newcastle United have a lot of talent in central midfield, but what if the Longstaff brothers both depart this summer and there aren’t any additions to the group? Saivet could get a chance to impress before his contract expires after next season.