Eddie Howe has some big decisions to make this summer, as he ponders which Newcastle United players to keep and which to let go.
He is desperate to keep top stars such as Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, both of which are the subject of interest from Arsenal. Bruno also has Manchester City taking a look, although he could prove to be too expensive for them.
However, it is looking less likely that Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett will remain at St James’ Park. They seemed to be in line for new contracts when Europe was on the horizon, but could now depart on frees following confirmation that Newcastle will not compete in next season’s Conference League.
Their fates appear to be sealed, despite Eddie Howe valuing their presence in the squad. Sadly for them, sentiment will be put to one side as the club wrestles with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
They need to increase their revenue by any means necessary, which means moving players on that are not required and cashing in at the right time.
Newcastle United make decision over Elliot Anderson’s future
However, there is one Toon player who Eddie Howe has no interest in selling.
That is Elliot Anderson, who, according to the Athletic, definitely will not be leaving Newcastle United this summer.
They report that Howe wants to keep the 21-year-old at St James’ Park, despite there being a clear benefit to selling him.
Anderson is a homegrown player. He is a local lad who has come through the Newcastle United academy, and that makes him an appealing option to sell. A departure from Tyneside would go down as pure profit in terms of PSR, which would massively help the Magpies’ position.
However, even that lure is not enough to tempt Howe into selling a player who Anthony Gordon recently described as ‘top’.
The club have very high hopes for Anderson, and he was actually expected to play a much bigger role during the 2023/24 campaign. Howe believed it was going to be his breakthrough year, but a back injury ensured that did not happen.
While the midfielder impressed at spells, it was not the breakthrough season it was expected to be. That will now be delayed until the 2024/25 campaign, when Anderson will also have to compete with the returning Sandro Tonali.
Sean Longstaff in a precarious position at Newcastle this summer
But one man who he may or may not have to compete with is Sean Longstaff.
He is another homegrown player who would go down as pure profit if he was sold, but his Newcastle United future is far more uncertain than Anderson’s.
That is because Longstaff is preparing to head into the final year of his Toon contract. His current deal expires in 2025, meaning this summer is Newcastle’s last chance to get some money for him or risk losing him for nothing.
That would be disastrous given the PSR boost he could provide, so the club either needs to sell him this summer or give him a new contract.
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