Newcastle fans here in the bar at the Football Transfer Tavern are buzzing to see what the Premier League brings them next season.

Rafael Benitez’s successful campaign in the Championship saw the Magpies experience a comfortable route back up to the Premier League, despite the race for the league title going down to the wire with fellow promoted side Brighton and Hove Albion. Having a manager of Benitez’s pedigree at the helm has quashed the talk in the Tavern that Newcastle could be relegated this season.

Benitez is also the perfect manager to build a squad fit for the Premier League and our landlord certainly believes there is some dead wood in the Magpies’ squad which needs a little bit of work on in time for the new season.

Our resident Geordies agree and they really don’t want to go back down to the Championship due to not having a good enough squad. A debate has been sparked and there are many names that they would like to leave St James’ Park by the time the transfer window slams shut, if not before.

The debate has more or less reached a climax and the Toon Army in the Tavern have given the three names they believe should be axed from their squad ASAP.

Check it out here…

Achraf Lazaar

The Moroccan joined Newcastle from Palermo last summer but has really failed to find his feet in the Toon and made just seven league appearances in the Championship last season.

This does not bode well for a season in the Premier League and our landlord believes that Benitez should cut his losses and axe Lazaar from his squad that will take on the top flight next season. Although he has also noted it may have taken a season for Lazaar to find his feet in England.

Though our landlord is very wise, our resident Geordies don’t believe now is the time to see if a player can acclimatise and the majority of Newcastle fans either hope a permanent or loan deal can be arranged for the left back.

Grant Hanley

Hanley is a player that Newcastle fans in the Tavern do not believe can cut it in the Premier League. The Scotsman did not cement his place under Benitez last season and he is not a Premier League quality centre back in the fans’ eyes.

Though our landlord believes that his resident Magpies are being overly harsh, he believes a move for Hanley would be best for himself and the club as he looks to really establish himself with first team football.

Daryl Murphy

A proven goalscorer in the Championship but very unproven in the Premier League, our landlord believes Benitez will be looking to get rid of Murphy as soon as possible in this transfer window.

Newcastle fans in the Tavern admit that whilst Murphy had scored some important goals for them last season, it is time for the ex-Sunderland striker to head back down a league on a permanent basis in order to gain regular first team football.