Danny Simpson is reported to be on his way out of Newcastle United with contract talks reportedly breaking down. What next for the former Manchester United trainee?
Right-back Danny Simpson has been a fixture of Newcastle United’s side for the last two seasons.
Despite helping them climb to unexpected heights of fifth place, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot, he appears ready to walk out on the club.
What possible reason could he have to do this?
The first appears to be money. When he was snapped up by Newcastle, he was still a young unproven talent, and he has remained on a relatively low wage by Premier League standards.
The Telegraph report that the new deal on the table of £25,000 – which would have more than doubled his wages – he viewed as too low, and he has rejected the offer.
Money is good, but surely the attraction of playing in Europe with Newcastle could compensate for feeling slightly undervalued?
He must, surely, be taking footballing reasons into account too, which leads us to wonder if he has something ‘better’ lined up?
By that, only a move to another top Premier League club should tempt him, but how likely it is, is unclear at this stage.
A return to Manchester United would surely be his dream move, he is still pals with many of the youngsters there, including Danny Welbeck. The Premier League runners-up have their problems at right-back, with Rafael, Jones and Smalling all rotated in the position throughout the season.
The Old Trafford club are looking at Crystal Palace’s Nathaniel Clyne, and Mathiew Debuchy, both players who have been linked with Newcastle to replace Simpson.
Any such decision will rest on the persuasions of the man who released him, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Chelsea are another top team, who will be in the market for a right-back this summer, but they are more likely to look to the continent instead.
Anywhere outside the top six, for Simpson would surely be a step down, and a terrible career move.
Why leave Newcastle, a team on the up, a team where he is first choice, to go down to a mediocre mid-table club in a petty dispute about money.
Simpson this season has been impressive at times, making more goal line clearances than any other player, but amongst his positive statistics, fans have at times become frustrated with a perceived defensive naivety.
He was lambasted after the Arsenal game at the Emirates by a section of the support for his slip up field which allowed Thomas Vermaelen to steam in and score an important late winning goal.
He received so much abuse on Twitter from supporters that he decided he was quitting the social network, and news of him refusing to agree a new deal will not make him any more popular at St James Park.
Simpson is though a good young defender, on the fringes of the England squad, and he has to forget money, and think of his career.
You suspect he is doing that too, leaving us to wonder if he is making a shrewd move to a top club, which the media have yet to get hold of.
If not, we fear he is making a big mistake.
What is Simpson playing at? Should he just sign a new deal at Newcastle?
image: © Running in Suffolk
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