Newcastle United currently have ten players whose contracts expire next summer (as per ESPN and transfermarkt), but do they deserve extensions?
I will be looking at the current squad to see whose contracts are up next summer and analyse whether they deserve new contracts or not.
Rolando Aarons
Newcastle have already held unsuccessful talks with Aarons’ representatives to discuss a new deal. The club then postponed discussions until the end of the season as relegation loomed. As it stands, talks have not recommenced.
Talks broke down after Aarons’ agent rejected Newcastle final offer of £6,000-a-week. A derisory offer when you consider several fringe players, such as Haris Vuckic, are on almost double. The club’s hierarchy appear relaxed about the situation and are in no rush to sort out the future of their most promising young star – who has attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester City among others.
I would expect the 19-year-old to kick on from his impressive debut season and cement his place in Steve McClaren’s first-team next season. He will face stiff competition from Yoan Gouffran and Sylvain Marveaux for the spot, but Aarons is the type of player to thrive on it.
Most news outlets report that Aarons’ contract will expire next summer, but there are still some that insist his contract is until 2017. Either way, the 19-year-old deserves a new deal.
Verdict: Deal
Mehdi Abeid
Like Aarons, Mehdi propelled himself from the fringes of the first-team to get right into the mix.
Injuries hit and Abeid found himself thrust into the first-team for Newcastle’s trip to the Etihad in the League Cup. Despite being up against Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, he bossed the midfield and helped secure a 2-0 victory. He had hit the ground running.
Alan Pardew promoted the Algerian midfielder to his starting XI for the next three Premier League games – Liverpool, West Brom and Burnley. He impressed on all three occasions.
Much to the annoyance of everybody involved with Newcastle, Mehdi sustained a broken toe whilst on national duty, which resulted in him being sidelined for a lengthy spell. When he returned from injury, Pardew – the man who had placed his faith in Abeid – had departed and John Carver was at the reigns. For some unknown reason, Carver favoured natural right-back Ryan Taylor in centre midfield.
In spite of this, when available for selection last season, Abeid was simply brilliant and was comfortably one of our better players.
Verdict: Deal
Fabricio Coloccini
Coloccini remains our best central defender but, even since Newcastle blocked his move to San Lorenzo, he has been a shadow of the player he once was.
The 32-year-old has already made it clear he intends to return to Argentina before he retires and it seems inevitable that he will leave at the end of the season – regardless of whether or not Newcastle table an extension.
“Some day I would go back and be able to play in San Lorenzo and retire there. Last year we had arranged the return to San Lorenzo,” Coloccini confessed. “It is clear that they [Newcastle] must defend their right because I had a contract.”
His greatest asset in the past was his pace, which enabled him to correct any rash decisions he made. Coloccini has lost that yard of pace and now relies on Mike Williamson/Steven Taylor to correct his mistakes.
Personally, I do not believe he would be that big a miss, but an adequate replacement is definitely needed.
Verdict: No Deal
Rob Elliot
Following Karl Darlow’s arrival from Nottingham Forest, I cannot see a future for Rob Elliot at the club. I would not be surprised if the former Charlton ‘keeper was among the departures this summer.
Elliot has reiterated his desire to play first-team football and, though he has always put in the effort when called upon, I do not believe he is up to the standard to be a Premier League goalkeeper. Darlow’s arrival should see him slip further down the pecking order too.
A decent back-up, but nothing more.
Verdict: No Deal
Shane Ferguson
Like Rob Elliot, I expect Ferguson to be among the departures this summer.
The 23-year-old has made a total of 32 appearances for Newcastle but, having been plagued with injuries, his development has been thwarted. Due to the lack of first-team football on Tyneside, he was loaned out to Birmingham City (twice) and Rangers – although he failed to impress at either club.
With Rolando Aarons and Sammy Ameobi already competing with Yoan Gouffran and Sylvain Marveaux for the same spot in the first-team, I cannot see Shane Ferguson forcing his way to the front of the queue.
Verdict: No Deal
Sylvain Marveaux
Marveaux returned to training yesterday – twelve months after being axed by then Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
The Frenchman is exactly what Newcastle lacked last season – a player with good vision and the ability to pick out the final pass.
Should McClaren recall Marveaux to the first-team, I would expect him to regain responsibility of set pieces. Due to Siem de Jong’s injuries and the exit of Yohan Cabaye, as well as Sylvain on loan, Newcastle did not pose a threat from set pieces. Ryan Taylor was the preferred free-kick taker last season, but failed to reproduce any to the standard of his strike against Sunderland in 2011.
The competition from Marveaux and Aarons for the left-midfield position should put a stop to Yoan Gouffran’s lacksidasical performances – which the Geordie faithful are all to familiar with.
Verdict: Deal
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan – the polar opposite of Sylvain Marveaux. The 26-year-old’s close control and passing ability are incredibly poor for a Premier League player and, though he possesses a great deal of pace, he rarely gets the better of his man. Even when he does, he lacks the ability to play the final ball.
I must admit, he has had some good games for Newcastle – like Leicester and Swansea last season – but they are few and far between.
Obertan suffered a thigh injury which saw him sidelined for five months last campaign. He failed to make any impact upon returning from injury – failing to find the net, or even provide an assist, in 2015.
Verdict: No Deal
Steven Taylor
Taylor was the type of player Newcastle lacked towards the end of last season. As we stared down the barrel of relegation, our players lacked the passion and fight to grind out results.
Though his decision making can be rash at times, alongside a Premier League standard defender, I believe Steven Taylor could be a value asset.
Verdict: Deal
Haris Vuckic
Steve McClaren will look to resolve his future this summer. Once he has seen enough of Vuckic in pre-season, he will decide whether to hand him a new deal and keep him on Tyneside or whether to sell him, with a number of clubs interested.
The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan to Scottish Championship side Rangers, with four other Newcastle reserve players. Vuckic made the most significant impact of them all – scoring eight times in 15 appearances.
With Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere, as well as potentially two new striker arrivals, all competing for the starting spots upfront next season, I do not see a place for Vuckic at Newcastle. Loaning him out for another season, just to be released at the end of the year, is a waste. Simply put: he should be sold this summer to the highest bidder.
Verdict: No Deal
Mike Williamson
There isn’t too much to discuss for this one. He should be sold this summer – simple as that.
He isn’t good enough to play in the Premier League and the arrival of Jamaal Lascelles only pushes him further down the pecking order.
Verdict: No Deal
