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Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea can pinch five Newcastle stars after transfer admission
COMMENT: Newcastle could be forced to sell some of Eddie Howe's top stars to their Premier League rivals.
Newcastle’s rivals could take advantage of their precarious Financial Fair Play situation by moving for some of Eddie Howe’s top stars in the January transfer window. Magpies chief executive Darren Eales admitted that some of the club’s most prized assets could be sold after announcing losses of over £150million over the past two years.
“It’s difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that if we’re going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players,” said Eales. “Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club.
“Whether that is because of the contract length of the player in question, the offer is too good to refuse, you need to reload in certain areas, but all of this could make sense to trade that player. It is counter-intuitive and part of the inherent system of PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) that there is an incentive to trade your players if you want to re-invest.”
With Newcastle perhaps more open to offers than expected, Express Sport has taken a look at five players that the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea could land.
Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation on Tyneside as one of the first signings of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment fund regime. However, if Newcastle were to look for the biggest fee they could receive before next season, the Brazilian would likely fetch that offer.
United and Arsenal are both on the lookout for midfield reinforcements, although a huge transfer fee would almost certainly come in the summer rather than January. Guimaraes does have a £100m release clause in the contract he signed in October.
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Sean Longstaff
Clubs are significantly rewarded by selling academy products as they represent complete profit on their financial records, which means a homegrown star such as Sean Longstaff to be let go.
Joelinton’s recent quad injury has exacerbated Newcastle’s need to keep the likes of Longstaff, but Erik ten Hag’s outfit have been interested in the 26-year-old previously and a sale could potentially benefit all parties.
Sven Botman
Similarly to Guimaraes, Sven Botman has represented Newcastle’s stellar record in the transfer window under their new owners. However, Jamaal Lascelles has proven himself to be a capable Premier League defender after injuries this season to Botman and Fabian Schar and would relish the task of retaining his spot as a starter.
Chelsea and Liverpool have been in the market for a central defender and if the Dutch centre-back was to be made available, he could certainly fetch considerable profit on the £32.5m Newcastle paid to sign him 18 months ago.
Lewis Miley
17-year-old Lewis Miley has burst onto the scene as a result of Newcastle’s injury crisis, but has looked at home in the Premier League. There will undoubtedly be eyes on him from rival clubs if Howe’s outfit are willing to cash in on their starlet.
The Shields Gazette claim that Newcastle want to offer Miley a new contract - with his current one lasting until 2026 - at the end of the season once he turns 18, but until that pen is put to paper his situation may pique the interest of Newcastle's rivals.
Harvey Barnes
Harvey Barnes attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool before joining Newcastle in the summer, but failed to make an immediate impact before picking up what Howe described as an “unusual” foot injury which has kept him out since September.
Anthony Gordon has since gone on to make Barnes’ left-wing spot his own in the ex-Leicester man’s absence and with opportunities more limited than he would have expected, Newcastle could cut their losses and move on from Barnes.