Newcastle United ‘at risk’ of losing 4 first-team players as transfer rule triggered
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Newcastle United latest news: The Magpies are at risk of losing four first-team players.
Newcastle United are at risk of losing four first-team players to pre-contract agreements.
The January transfer window has now opened and for Newcastle United, that means another chance to improve Eddie Howe’s squad so it is capable of competing on all fronts during the second half of the campaign. Whilst their Premier League form has stuttered of late, they remain in a decent position to challenge for European qualification if they end the season well.
They are also still in the Champions League and both domestic cup competitions, although tough draws in those two mean they will do well to progress in both. Whilst fans will have their attention turned towards what players the club can bring in to help have a successful campaign, the Magpies also need to ensure they don’t lose the services of any key players.
Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali have both recently been linked with moves away from the club to Manchester City and Juventus respectively, whilst Joelinton reportedly has admirers in Saudi Arabia. Newcastle United must also resolve a couple of outstanding contract decisions, or else they risk losing a quartet of players on free transfers.
Newcastle United ‘at risk’ of losing four players
Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles have all entered the final six months of their contracts at St James’ Park. This means that any of them can agree a ‘pre-contract’ deal with another club which will see them leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
FIFA regulations state: "A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.
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"A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months.
"Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions."
The only condition to a pre-contract agreement is that the club wanting to sign a player cannot be based in the same country as the selling club. Therefore, none of Trippier, Schar, Krafth or Lascelles can sign a pre-contract agreement with an English club - although they would be free to move to another English club in the summer once their contract expires.
Callum Wilson is a very recent example of this process. Wilson left Newcastle United in July following the expiration of his contract before joining West Ham as a free agent later that summer.
Whilst injury has prevented Lascelles from playing recently, he remains a key figure behind-the-scenes and is the club’s longest serving senior player. Trippier and Schar have both been regular features in Howe’s matchday squads this season and whilst neither are likely to be first-team regulars next season, they will both likely have a role to play if they extend their stay at the club.
Krafth, meanwhile, has signed a couple of short contract extensions to prolong his stay on Tyneside over the past couple of years. His versatility has been a key reason for this and is the youngest of the aforementioned quartet.