The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and his Newcastle future is still up in the air.
In the aftermath of Newcastle United’s surprise Championship title win following their 3-0 victory over Barnsley, midfielder Vurnon Anita announced his desire to stay at St James’ Park, as reports the Daily Mail, but if the club want to progress, they should release him.
The 28-year-old, who has largely operated at right-back this season, made 31 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies – 27 of which came in the league – but his form was average at best and he is certainly someone the club should view as expendable moving forward.
The Netherlands international has made over 150 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle, and while he has been a useful back-up option for the club in the past – and a fairly prominent selection in a division below what the Magpies are used to this season – it makes no sense to keep hold of deadwood.
Newcastle have always been ambitious, and this is a brilliant chance to fully demonstrate that by bringing in better players to have as first team options – while ensuring they aren’t put in a position where relegation is an option again.
The fact that Anita’s future depends on the warchest manager Rafael Benitez is given for the summer, as reports the Newcastle Chronicle, speaks volumes – as it basically means that Benitez will only keep Anita on if he isn’t backed by the board well enough to sign players who can move the club forwards.
Ultimately, Anita has been a decent servant for Newcastle without ever becoming a key player during his spell on Tyneside, but the Magpies really should be ruthless here and let him go to pastures new.
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