Newcastle United have just cut almost half a million pounds from their budget with Achraf Lazaar terminating his contract at St James’ Park.
And, in truth, it’s about time.
While the Morocco international has been nothing but professional since moving to Tyneside from Palermo during the early days of the Rafa Benitez era, it is no surprise that Newcastle have moved him on.
Lazaar has played just 37 minutes of league football in five years after all.
And he hasn’t even come close to forcing his way into Steve Bruce’s plans, despite impressing under the Geordie gaffer during a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in 2018/19.
But after taking home £9,000-a-week during half a decade as a Newcastle player, the Premier League strugglers have finally agreed to cut ties with one of their longest-serving yet most seldom-seen players.
Lazaar, who earned around £470,000-a-year annually, will be free to start over and join a new club on a free transfer (Spotrac).
TMW adds that clubs in Italy are interested in the former Palermo and Benevento man. And it is no secret that Lazaar would jump at the chance to soak up the Mediterranean sun once again.
“We worked to bring him back to Italy until the last day of the (summer) market,” agent Vincenzo Pisacane told Tuttomercatoweb in November.
“There was some interest but (a transfer) did not materialize. I hope to see him again in our league. He must find continuity.”
While Lazaar will be quickly forgotten on Tyneside, Newcastle supporters can’t help but wonder what might have been.
The 29-year-old was outstanding during a brief but brilliant spell at Hillsborough and, not so long ago, was one of Serie A’s most exciting young left-backs.
Who knows what Lazaar could have achieved, if he’d been given a mere sliver of a chance?
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