Things are changing at Newcastle United.
Indeed, we are now set for Eddie Howe’s third full season in charge of the club and Newcastle are already having something of an overhaul.
Where last summer, not all too many players left St James’ Park on a permanent basis, there has already been an improvement on that this time around.
Clearly, the hope will be that Newcastle don’t have to sell the players they want to keep. Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes have both been linked away but Howe has warned that selling either would set the club back in their attempts to grow immeasurably.
Still, there is little doubt that some players needed – or will need – to move on amid reports the club are looking to raise a significant amount of money through sales.
Two players who left St James’ recently were Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie.
Both have been talked up behind the scenes despite their lack of game time having played big roles in the dressing room and on the training pitch over the years.
However, the fact Newcastle missed out on Europe meant neither saw their contracts extended as Howe does not need as big a squad given domestic competitions will be his only focus.
Some at the club, however, think the decision should have been made before then.
What some at Newcastle really thought about Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie leaving the club
According to The Athletic, there were figures behind the scenes on Tyneside suggesting the duo should have gone regardless of whether Newcastle reached Europe or not.
The pair played only a combined 138 minutes of Premier League football in the season just gone and their exit is thought to have saved the club around £100k-per-week.
For his part, Howe was said to be stressing that the pair’s ability to drive standards on the training ground and wealth of experience should have seen them stay, if Newcastle reached Europe.
Newcastle have needed this era to end for a while
Since the PIF takeover, only Chris Wood and Allan Saint-Maximin have left for reasonably hefty sums.
Clearly, the club will not be getting any money for Dummett and Ritchie (as well as Amadou Diallo, Loris Karius, Jeff Hendrick and Kell Watts), but saving on wages during a period in which Newcastle are walking a tightrope in terms of FFP feels hugely important.
Perhaps there was some merit in Howe’s argument about keeping them in an ideal world but that’s not the financial reality in which Newcastle operate.
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