Jonjo Shelvey could soon be seeking a transfer as he is not a big part of Newcastle United’s future plans, so what five clubs could sign the midfielder now including Fulham and Leeds?
The Toon signed Shelvey from Swansea City in January of 2016 for £12m as they fought to avoid relegation. Championship football would ultimately arrive on Tyneside that year. But Rafa Benitez secured their instant Premier League return, with Shelvey playing a vital role.
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Rarely has the 30-year-old not held an important presence at St James’ Park across the last five top-flight seasons. When fit, Shelvey is an almost guaranteed starter and has oten also taken on the captaincy. Yet as Newcastle look to move up the table, he may be left behind.
Jonjo Shelvey could soon seek new club amid uncertain future at Newcastle
That’s because Dean Jones says Shelvey is not going to be a big part of Newcastle’s plans for the future. Boss Eddie Howe is keen to continue using the Magpies’ Saudi-backed funds to improve his core players, which will see the six-cap England international fall to the side.
Newcastle have already spent a lot after their £305m takeover backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund in October. Bruno Guimaraes was one of those to arrive in January, with the Brazilian completing a £35m move from Lyon featuring an additional £6.5m in add-ons.
Howe is likely to build his midfield around Guimaraes going forward after making a splash on Tyneside already. Alan Shearer has hailed the 24-year-old for his ‘wonderful’ start as a Toon player, having scored a clutch of important goals following a steady start at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur anchor Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be the next midfielder to arrive at St James’. The Mirror report Newcastle are interested in Hojbjerg, and are prepared to pay Spurs £30m. So, what clubs can sign Shelvey this year with his Newcastle future uncertain?
Fulham can be Jonjo Shelvey’s next club by signing Newcastle ace after promotion
Fulham could sign Shelvey from Newcastle as the Craven Cottage club target transfers as a Premier League side once again. The Cottagers will return to the top-flight next term after lifting the Championship title, and will be determined to avoid another instant relegation.
Following play-off success in 2017/18 and ‘19/20, Fulham suffered an immediate return to the second-tier. They have not been a consistent top-flight presence since 2014, when the Cottagers fell into the Championship following a 13 year period as a Premier League outfit.
Shelvey can offer Fulham plenty of top-flight experience and leadership if the club were to eye a transfer with Newcastle. He is also a steady and well-rounded operator in the engine room, whom former Magpies boss Steve Bruce spoke fondly of during his time in charge.
“Jonjo has always been blessed – it becomes easy, the game of football, like a game of golf to him,” Bruce said in 2020, via the Newcastle website. “He’s blessed with a natural ability. He can see a pass that other people can’t, he can deliver a pass [and] he can score a goal.”
Leeds can solve midfield issues with Newcastle raid for Jonjo Shelvey
Leeds can solve their midfield issues if the West Yorkshire club were to sign Shelvey from Newcastle this summer. The Whites have struggled for numbers as they have dealt with a variety of injuries this season, having kept a small squad under former boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Jesse Marsch is seemingly keen to atone for the Argentine’s error during his first window in charge this summer. Voetbal Primeur report the American is interested in Leeds signing Nicolas Raskin from Standard Liege. But Genoa and Belgian outfits are also in the running.
Raskin is a highly-rated 21-year-old who could serve as a long-term option at Elland Road. But Leeds could benefit far more in the immediate future with a move to sign Shelvey from Newcastle as the club strives to move back up the Premier League table, if they stay up.
Crystal Palace can replace Conor Gallagher with Jonjo Shelvey
Patrick Vieira has done a tremendous job at Crystal Palace after replacing Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park last year. Conor Gallagher has been an instrumental factor behind what the Eagles have achieved, with the Chelsea loanee a leading figure in south London all season.
But Gallagher is unlikely to be at Selhurst Park next term, and Vieira is already considering replacements. The Daily Mail report Crystal Palace are interested in signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea. But Everton, West Ham and Jose Mourinho’s Roma are also keen.
Shelvey would be a very solid alternative to Loftus-Cheek should Crystal Palace fail to edge their rivals. His ability to play clinical long-range passes can be a superb addition for Vieira, as he would be able to unlock space to free Michail Olise, Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha.
Wolves can find Ruben Neves heir in Jonjo Shelvey if club signs Newcastle ace
Wolves could find themselves in the market for a new midfielder this summer with Ruben Neves’ Molineux future uncertain. Sport report the Portuguese is eager to join Barcelona, while Sky Sports note Arsenal have made Neves one of their top targets for the off-season.
Shelvey can serve as Neves’ heir in the West Midlands, and is unlikely to command a high transfer fee. Newcastle could look to sell Shelvey this summer as he will enter the last year of a £70k-a-week contract in June. He penned the terms back in March 2020 under Bruce.
With Howe now keen to move on from the likes of Shelvey, Newcastle are unlikely to give him a new contract. Clubs in need of new central midfielders – possibly like Wolves – then may look to sign Shelvey over the summer if it becomes clear he has no future at St James’.
Huddersfield Town could intensify Premier League return by signing Jonjo Shelvey
While Fulham and Bournemouth have gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, the Championship play-off spot remains available. Huddersfield Town are among the clubs who will compete in the play-offs as they eye their top-flight return after three years away.
The Terriers were last in the Premier League in 2018/19 when Aaron Mooy was the star of the John Smith’s Stadium midfield. Carols Corberan could find his own Mooy in Shelvey if his West Yorkshire club were to secure top-flight status and then sign the Newcastle star.
Huddersfield would severely lack Premier League experience in the centre of the field after also selling Philip Billing in 2019. Lewis O’Brien is Corberan’s most-often utilised option in midfield, but the 23-year-old has so far never played in the top-flight in his still raw career.
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