Newcastle United have already given transfer exit green light to forgotten trio
Newcastle United transfers: The Magpies will have several loan players return to the club this summer.
Newcastle United will allow at least three more players to leave this summer following confirmation of the club's retained list.
Newcastle's retained list confirmed that Matt Targett would not be returning to the club following his loan spell at Middlesbrough due to his contract expiring.
But four of Newcastle’s returning loan players remain under contract for the 2026/27 season, yet all face uncertain futures.
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Loan players return to NUFC - but for how long?
Joe White and Harrison Ashby head into the final year of their contracts at Newcastle following a half-season loan spell at Bradford City in League One. Ashby featured eight times but was limited to just two starts as the Bantams finished fourth but missed out on promotion after a play-off defeat to eventual winners Bolton Wanderers.
Ashby was not in the squad for the play-off matches, nor was Joe White, who made just one start and two substitute appearances in January before failing to make any following matchday squads. White made four substitute appearances for Newcastle during the 2023/24 season but has spent the past two campaigns out on loan at MK Dons, Leyton Orient and Bradford.
It’s a similar story for Ashby, who has not played any competitive football for Newcastle since joining from West Ham United in January 2023. Ashby spent the past three seasons on loan at Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers and Bradford.
With White and Ashby turning 24 and 25 respectively early next season, they are no longer viewed as young prospects and will be allowed to leave the club this summer.
Goalkeeper decision
Odysseas Vlachodimos will return from Sevilla but is another who will be allowed to leave after it was made clear he is not part of Eddie Howe’s goalkeeping plans. The Greek international joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest for £20million in a PSR-influenced deal which saw Elliot Anderson head in the opposite direction for £35million.
Vlachodimos has been limited to one substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup en route to Newcastle winning the trophy. The 32-year-old has openly expressed his desire to leave Newcastle despite initially wanting to make the move work, with Sevilla open to a move.