Both Vurnon Anita and Yoan Gouffran should be rewarded with new deals at Newcastle United, with the pair well into the final six months of their respective contracts at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies have strengthened their grip on a potential return to the Premier League at the first time of asking with recent wins at Brighton and Huddersfield, topped off with a hard-fought point at Reading.
The run has left the club with a golden platform to, at the very least, gain automatic promotion comfortably.
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has been keen to remind fans and players alike that nothing has been won yet, and that there is plenty more work to do before anyone involved with the club can begin their celebrations.
While many at the club will still be dreaming of potential Premier League football next season, for Anita and Gouffran, there is much more to be decided.
Benitez is reportedly keen for the duo to extend their deals at Newcastle, and the club have held contract discussions with both Anita and Gouffran throughout the current campaign.
Back in February, Benitez told the Chronicle:
“I had a conversation with Lee Charnley, and we were talking about that (Anita and Gouffran’s contract situations).
“We are pleased with them and it’s just a question of to see if we can progress and make something with them.
“I think both of them have done really well, for us now but also they have Premier League experience so they are kind of players we need.”
Vurnon Anita was Newcastle’s mainstay at right-back come the end of last season, and impressed in the run-in despite the Magpies’ relegation.
The Dutchman has again been deployed as a full-back throughout this year’s Championship campaign, sharing the starting berth with summer arrival DeAndre Yedlin, and has impressed when called upon.
Anita has made 24 appearances in all competitions, providing just the one assist, but has kept 10 clean sheets as part of an impressive Newcastle defence this year.
Benitez is a big fan of Anita, with his work rate, versatility and consistency shining through on many occasions this year. He turns 28 next month, so still has several years in him to perform at the highest level. We’d certainly argue that not only does Anita merit a new deal, he would still be a more-than-useful asset to the squad next year.
The revival of Yoan Gouffran has been one of the biggest surprises of the season.
He was seen as surplus to requirements at the beginning of the season, but after back-to-back defeats for Newcastle to start the season, Gouffran was brought in from the cold to start the home clash with Reading in August. The Frenchman picked up two assists in a 4-1 win and has been a regular for Newcastle ever since.
Gouffran has bagged seven goals and supplied five assists in 37 outings in all competitions this season. Not a bad return at all.
After initially bursting onto the scene with his tirelessness and goals return when he first joined Newcastle in 2013, Gouffran struggled over the next couple of years, and fell out of favour with many Newcastle coaches and fans.
But a return of highly important goals over the likes of Derby County, Norwich City and Aston Villa this season has given him a new lease of life on Tyneside.
Gouffran would have found it easy to walk away from Newcastle in the summer, but he didn’t, and when called upon has gave his all to help send Newcastle back into the top flight.
Whether a 31-year-old Gouffran can cut it in the Premier League again next year is more questionable. But a one-year extension for another hard-working and versatile player would still be a welcome decision.
The duo are both free to talk with clubs across Europe about arranging pre-contract deals, and Anita and Gouffran have been linked with moves to their native Holland and France respectively.
We should expect some movement on the contract situations of both soon enough.
Would you like to see Vurnon and Yoan stay with Newcastle next season? Let us know by tweeting us @ReadNewcastle!
