The decision-makers at Newcastle United have some puzzles to solve over the coming year – not least deciding which of the current squad should be offered a new contract.
There are nine Newcastle United players whose deals will end in summer 2023. All of them are young enough to keep playing, so Eddie Howe and his staff have some problem-solving to do.
While it is easy to be ambitious about players coming in, that has to be weighed against squad places, the payroll and the length of other players' contracts. These are the nine for whom big decisions lie ahead.
Emil Krafth
The Swedish right-back was not highly regarded by many fans until recently. However, the arrival of Howe showed that it was unfair to judge any Newcastle player on their performance in recent years.
When Kieran Trippier got injured, Kfrath took his chance to impress and then some. That resurgence has solved any right-back headache and, at just 27 years old, he merits an extension.
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Matty Longstaff
The 22-year-old had a disappointing time on loan at Aberdeen in the first half of last season. Then he dropped down to League Two to play for Mansfield Town where he got 16 starts.
Hopefully that did him so good, as will time spent with Howe amid the raised expectations at Newcastle. He may go out on loan again, but a contract should surely be renewed if all goes well.
Jonjo Shelvey
Fans were justifiably frustrated with the 30-year-old in the past. However, he made 24 appearances last season and was one of the key players in turning things around.
Next season he will have to battle for his spot against Bruno Guimarães, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Joe Willock and potentially a new midfield arrival. He should get some games though, and his future might come down to whether he wants to play every week or not.
Paul Dummett
The confounding of expectation: squad places were so scarce that three players did not get a place last season; new players need to be brought in but some players are on long contracts; the contract of 30-year-old Dummett, who made three appearances last season, was about to expire; yet he got a one-year extension.
Paul Dummett was the shock signing of the summer. An extension next year seems unlikely, but most people would have thought that this time round too.
Federico Fernandez
The Argentine centre-back is very well thought of on Tyneside and it would be good to see how well he could do surrounded by better players. On the other hand, he is 33 years old and only started five games last season.
Under Howe he appears down the pecking order from Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar, so if another centre-back arrives he will struggle to get on the pitch. Perhaps a free agent deal in 2023 would suit him.
Matt Ritchie
A winger who always seemed to struggle when played as a left-back, a decision which never seemed fair to most. He did it though, and he has done a lot more for the club.
Last season he made 18 appearances, but found himself out of favour in the second half of the season. Aged 32, he still has years of football in him, but a renewal seems unlikely.
Ciaran Clark
Another 32-year-old whose opportunities at Newcastle are likely to be few. Things seemed to turn sour for him last year with an foolish sending off against Norwich City then an on-pitch squabble during a friendly.
Then, after 13 appearances, he was dropped from the 25-man squad when the new arrivals came. A brutal moment for him no doubt, and he has a lot to do to prove he merits a renewal.
Mark Gillespie
The goalkeeping situation at Newcastle United is a puzzle in itself. Martin Dubravka is a high-class goalkeeper, but it might be that Howe wants something different.
Meanwhile Gillespie, 30 years old, fails to get a look in. Is he the sort of stand-by goalkeeper every club needs though?
Freddie Woodman
Then there is Woodman. He started on the pitch last season but there were no clean sheets and it was far from an ideal time to be proving his ability.
He ended up being loaned out to Bournemouth but barely got an appearance. The 25-year-old may have another loan next season, but it is impossible to say what will happen after that.
