Newcastle United player stripped of squad number — paves way for imminent £35m signing

Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser has been left without a squad number ahead of his expected departure this summer.

The Scotland international last played for the Magpies in October 2022 after he was frozen out by head coach Eddie Howe during the second half of last season.

Fraser was told to train with the under-21s following a reported fall between the pair, who have known each other for 10 years after Howe first signed the 29-year-old for AFC Bournemouth.

“Ryan is training with the under-21s,” Howe revealed earlier this year. “I made the decision to concentrate on the players that are committed to Newcastle. For the benefit of the group, I’ve made that call.

Asked if he saw a future for Fraser on Tyneside, Howe added: “I think that’s a difficult one for me to answer because I’d never put a firm decision on that because life and football can change quickly.

“But I’d say at the moment, no he doesn’t.”

Howe’s stance hasn’t changed with Fraser’s absence continuing into pre-season. Newcastle announced its squad number list for the 2023-24 campaign on Friday afternoon and the former Aberdeen winger has been stripped of the No.21.

That shirt number could go to Tino Livramento, who is set to join from Southampton over the weekend for a deal worth £35million. The 21-year-old wore that exact number during his two years at St Mary’s.

Newcastle remain active in their pursuit to offload Fraser, however the player’s reported £70,000-a-week wages are proving too substantial for interested Championship clubs.

In other news, Anthony Gordon has been handed the No.10 shirt following Allan Saint-Maximin’s move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. New signings Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes claim the No.8 and No.15, respectively.

SQUAD NUMBERS IN FULL

1 Martin Dubravka, 2 Kieran Trippier, 3 Paul Dummett, 4 Sven Botman, 5 Fabian Schar, 6 Jamaal Lascelles, 7 Joelinton, 8 Sandro Tonali, 9 Callum Wilson, 10 Anthony Gordon, 11 Matt Ritchie, 13 Matt Targett, 14 Alexander Isak, 15 Harvey Barnes, 17 Emil Krafth, 18 Loris Karius, 19 Javier Manquillo, 22 Nick Pope, 23 Jacob Murphy, 24 Miguel Almiron, 28 Joe Willock, 29 Mark Gillespie, 32 Elliot Anderson, 33 Dan Burn, 36 Sean Longstaff, 39 Bruno Guimaraes, 67 Lewis Miley.