Newcastle United set for £10m FFP windfall following quiet January transfer window

Newcastle United can rake in almost £10million in player wages to create further Financial Fair Play headroom this summer.

Darren Eales opened up about the Magpies’ need to think outside the box in the market to free up funds for future signings. Those comments led many to believe a star player could be moved on, with reports linking several Newcastle stars to other clubs in the January transfer window.

But offloading surplus players could also create wriggle room for new arrivals. Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, Emil Krafth, Mark Gillespie and Loris Karius are all out of contract in the summer.

Lascelles aside, the others have made just five starts between them across all competitions. Eyebrows were raised when Toon chiefs rewarded long-servers Ritchie and Dummett contracts last summer despite little game time.

But now could be the time for the duo to move on, with Krafth another on high wages who offers little in return. Newcastle will likely keep either Gillespie or Karius as a reserve option to Nick Pope. The latter almost got a run out against Aston Villa on Tuesday but was sent back to the bench as Martin Dubravka battled on.

For the purpose of this article, both players will seek pastures new this summer - leaving the door open for an academy graduate to stake his claim as third-choice goalkeeper. Lascelles would be the most high-profile exit should he opt against renewing on Tyneside.

The 30-year-old was appointed United captain in 2016 but has struggled for minutes under Eddie Howe. He featured heavily earlier in the season due to Sven Botman’s injury but, once the Dutchman returned, was demoted back to the bench.

Besiktas are reportedly sniffing around Lascelles, with the Turkish transfer window not closing until February 9. The Toon skipper’s exit would free up around £40,000 per week for the club coffers.

Overall, allowing all six players to leave should recoup an estimated £9.3million for the wage bill. Ritchie (£45,000 per week) is understood to be the highest earner out of the sextet.

NUFC contracts set to expire

Ritchie - £45,000

Lascelles - £40,000

Krafth - £40,000

Dummett - £30,000

Gillespie - £10,000

Karius - £10,000

Total per year: £9.3million