Newcastle United are well on their way to a return the Premier League and thoughts are turning towards next season already, including who may be heading for the exit door.
It would be naive to think that Newcastle United’s promotion is not a foregone conclusion, it would take a dramatic collapse in the final eight games of the Championship season for Rafael Benitez’s side not to be a part of England’s top flight next campaign.
Despite their tag of early season promotion favourties materialising, it has not been all plain sailing for the Magpies. After a busy summer reshuffling the squad in preparation for a promotion bid, you feel that the upcoming summer transfer window will be just as busy.
While the likes of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie have excelled this season, there are a number of players who have failed to make the impact that Toon supporters were hoping they would. We take a look at three players that Benitez should be looking to move on in the summer.
Grant Hanley
Newcastle signed Hanley from Blackburn Rovers on a five-year deal only in July, in a deal thought to be worth up to £6million (Daily Mail). The Scottish international has struggled to make an impact on the team as he has been unable to dislodge Jamal Lascalles and fellow summer signing Ciaran Clark as the starting centre-backs.
The 25-year-old revealed his frustrations at his lack of first-team opportunities to the Chronicle back in January. He has had more first-team chances in recent weeks but has done little to convince Newcastle supporters that he can quite make the grade at St James’ Park.
If Newcastle are promoted then it is hard to see where Hanley would fit into their long term aspirations of being a force in the Premier League. It may be a wise decision to sell him in the summer and try to recoup the fee they paid for him.
Grant Hanley has made only eight Championship appearances for Newcastle so far this season
Mohamed Diame
Diame was also signed in the summer by Benitez in the hope he would help secure Newcastle promotion at the first time of asking. The Senegal international scored the winning goal in the play-off final for Hull City the season before. Promotion looks likely to happen but how much of that is down to Diame’s contribution to the side? Very little it seems.
The 29-year-old has only managed to score three goals so far this season. Diame is a central midfielder but has been used in a central forward role behind the talismanic Gayle but has struggled to maintain a consistent run of form.
It could be suggested as unfair to heap such criticism on someone playing out of position. However, if Newcastle are looking to kick on in the Premier League, they will require a player capable of scoring more goals from this key position in Benitez’s set-up.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Since making his big money move from Anderlecht in 2015, the big Serb’s time at St James’ Park has been nothing short of eventful.
The 22-year-old was given the arduous task of leading the line for Newcastle in the Premier League. While scoring nine goals in his first season in England was by no means shameful, the team’s lack of goals was their undoing during their relegation campaign.
For a player rated as highly as Mitrovic, a season in the Championship would do him the world of good as he looked to rediscover his confidence as well as his goal-scoring touch. Things have not gone quite to plan and he only has four league goals to his name this season.
It seems like his days may be numbered on Tyneside and despite being a fan favourite, there would be little argument among supporters if Benitez does decide to cash in on him.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has failed to live up to expectations since his move from Anderlecht
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