Newcastle United have handed out five new contracts during the 2023-24 season - with Joelinton next on the agenda.
Bruno Guimaraes, Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar and Lewis Miley have all agreed new deals in recent months while United last week exercised an option to extend Emil Krafth's stay at St James' Park until 2025.
And speaking ahead of tonight's FA Cup fifth round clash away to Blackburn Rovers, Magpies' head coach Eddie Howe says securing Joelinton's long-term future is an "absolute priority" for him.
Howe admitted last month there is a possibility Joelinton has played his last game for the club. The Brazilian is in a race against time to play again this season after undergoing thigh surgery and is out-of-contract next summer.
Talks have taken place over a new deal but, as it stands, the two parties remain some way apart from an agreement. With Dan Ashworth placed on gardening leave, CEO Darren Eales and co-owners Amanda Staveley & Mehrdad Ghodoussi have been tasked with finding a solution.
And Howe is desperate for the 27-year-old to extend his stay on Tyneside having first arrived from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for a then club-record £40million in 2019.
“That’s always been in my mind as an absolute priority to try and get him to stay at the club long-term," said Howe. "I see that as hugely important."
“We’ve missed Joe’s qualities, especially physical - his robustness, his ability in duels, set plays for and against… I think we’re very lucky to have a midfielder as big and competitive as he is," added Howe.
"Whenever you lose those qualities I think you notice when they’re not there. He’s a very unusual midfielder really, you don’t get many like him and we’ve missed what he can bring."
Here's when every Newcastle United player's contract expires as things stand:
1. Elliot Anderson - N/A
Signed a ‘long-term’ deal in September 2022.
2. Anthony Gordon - N/A
Newcastle didn’t disclose the length of Gordon's contract when he signed from Everton just over 12 months ago.
3. Harrison Ashby - N/A
Similar to Gordon, the club didn’t reveal Ashby's contract length. Currently on loan at Swansea City.
4. Lewis Hall - TBC
Newcastle have triggered a permanent deal for Hall - currently on loan from Chelsea - after meeting the performance related criteria. He will sign a long-term contract this summer.