Steve Bruce ready for 'difficult conversations' at Newcastle United

Federico Fernandez, Dwight Gayle, Jacob Murphy and Andy Carroll are among those out of contract at the end of the season, while the 12th-placed club will take up options to extend the deals of Fabian Schar and Paul Dummett by another year.

Steve Bruce says there will be some “difficult decisions and conversations” in the coming days following the ending the club’s Premier League campaign.

“We’ll have conversations now like a lot of clubs have, and plot a way through it,” said United’s head coach. “They’re always difficult decisions and conversations, so we’re not alone in that department.”

Fernandez, 32, spoke of “better things to come” following Sunday’s 2-0 win over Fulham. The defender said in an Instagram post: "Very happy how we ended the season. Now time to recharge, and better things will come.”