Nottingham Forest midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has revealed he ‘pleaded’ with Eddie Howe to leave Newcastle United. He moved from St James’ Park in a last-gasp transfer this January.
The 30-year-old had been on Tyneside for the past seven years having joined the Magpies from Swansea City in 2016. Steve McClaren paid the Welsh outfit £12m for his signature in the mid-season market. Shelvey went on to have 202 appearances across all competitions.
Shelvey also offered the Toon 18 goals and 25 assists through 15,519 minutes of action in black-and-white. But the six-cap England international only played 122 minutes across five outings this season. He suffered a hamstring injury in August and a calf issue in December.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has confirmed that Shelvey is now ‘close’ to a return from injury, via Nottinghamshire Live. The Midlands outfit agreed to a deal with Newcastle on deadline day as the Toon provided extra information on the status of his rehabilitation.
The injury prevented Shelvey from making his debut as Cooper’s squad beat Leeds United 1-0 last Sunday. But the Romford-born technician could now come into the Reds’ fold this Saturday. Nottingham Forest travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in the 15:00 kick-off.
Shelvey convinced Newcastle boss Howe to grant his transfer to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest offered to pay Shelvey a small wage increase to clinch his transfer from Newcastle, per The Telegraph. He now makes just over £70k-a-week at the City Ground on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The midfielder was due to become a free agent this July 1.
Yet despite his terms at Newcastle expiring this summer, Howe was initially reluctant to let Shelvey transfer to Nottingham Forest. So, the former Liverpool star has now revealed that he ‘pleaded’ with the Magpies boss to have a change of heart to force through his transfer.
“He said he couldn’t let me go at first and then I sort of pleaded with him to let me go,” Shelvey told The Guardian. “He said he would sleep on it. But then he said he would only let me go if they could get one in.
“I said I needed to leave for a fresh start and put my points across. And the next day he pulled me, we had a little chat and he granted my wish. Eddie said he wouldn’t stand in the way of my happiness.”
Howe was initially reluctant to sanction Shelvey’s transfer to Nottingham Forest to prevent Newcastle from being short of midfielders. He has Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff as natural picks. Joelinton has also adapted well to the role since Howe’s arrival.
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