Rafa Benitez is likely to have to sell before he can buy at Newcastle next month.
If owner Mike Ashley remains in control of Newcastle United in the January transfer window, then the only way Rafa Benitez will be able to buy players is if he sells first.
The Toon, despite having a remarkably thin squad, do have a handful of players that are considered dead wood and would not affect the quality of their squad if sold next month. Here, we consider a quintet of Toon players who should be thrown on the scrapheap.
Aleksander Mitrovic
Third choice in Benitez’s options up front, the Serbia international remains behind Dwight Gayle and Joselu. Offloading the former Anderlecht ace will provide the Toon with a decent outlay of funds to reinvest.
Massadio Haidara
His long-term knee injury has seen the Frenchman fall behind mediocre left-back Paul Dummett and summer signing Javier Manquillo, and for the good of his career he should be offloaded.
Jack Colback
The former Sunderland midfielder is said to be interesting a number of Championship clubs and with the Daily Star claiming Colback is earning £35,000 a week – despite not being picked in the 25-man Premier League squad – he must be sold.
Curtis Good
In the last year of his contract, Australia international Good has made just two senior Newcastle appearances in his career. If the Toon want to earn a fee for the commanding defender, they must sell him in January.
Henri Saivet
Way down the pecking order behind Mikel Merino, Jonjo Shelvey, Mo Diame and Isaac Hayden, Saivet’s chances of first-team football are slim. A move back to France would suit both parties.
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