This summer promises to be a huge one for the Magpies. Newcastle United could find themselves at a crossroads and a number of key figures at the club could leave. The Geordies are all desperate for Rafa Benitez to stay, however, the future of their midfield is up in the air as The Chronicle claim that Jonjo Shelvey could be on his way out.
Shelvey, Diame and Hayden could all be gone in the summer. A significant part of our team's spine. And you could also imagine it will need a significant outlay to replace those three. #NUFC https://t.co/Tz8csdCRYH
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) March 26, 2019
The issues at Newcastle United run deep. Mike Ashley is the root cause of them, yet as he looks to be staying on Benitez and co will have to just do what they can. That could be tough, though, considering that three of the club’s five central-midfielders could all be on their way out. Mo Diame has just months left on his contract, Isaac Hayden has wanted out for a long time and now these Shelvey rumours have emerged.
Losing the first two of the three players mentioned is almost a certainty. Diame has been a bit part player this season whilst despite Hayden’s recent awesome form, he sure looks to be leaving. However, Shelvey simply has to stay, doesn’t he? If he was to leave that would leave Benitez with just Sean Longstaff, Sung-Yeung Ki and a lot of summer spending needing to be done, which is why the Geordies are adamant that they want to see Shelvey ignore the speculation and stay at St James Park.
You can see what the Magpies have to say about Shelvey here:
https://twitter.com/BootGeordie/status/1110496753747402757
Need to keep our best players and Shelvey is one of them.
— Scott Denholm (@scotty8431) March 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/GraemeHenry3/status/1110501879069458432
I'd love to keep Hayden and Shelvey and wouldn't mind keeping Diame but only on a 1 year deal. They all graft their asses off every time they're on the pitch. Hayden has turned into a gem recently but he wants to go so he'll go. Shelvey still has the game winning pass in him.
— Matthew (@WorAyoze) March 26, 2019
Be bitter sweet to lose Shelvey. On his day he’s one of the best passers in the league, but defensively he’s poor
— Steve McKenna (@SteveMcKenna_) March 26, 2019
You would have to choose keeping shelvey and letting the other two go, hayden wants to go and diame isn't getting any younger. Shelvey also came out recently to say he's willing to do whatever to get his place back so he still has the commitment.
— Aidan McGowan (@AdainAidan) March 26, 2019
If two go and you'd imagine that would be Diame and Hayden, which is a real pity because Hayden is obviously a talent and for all the criticism Diame has been an excellent midfield enforcer for the last season and a half, you wouldn't think we'd let Shelvey go. Would be insane
— Chilly Rusula (@MastrContender) March 26, 2019
The Magpies all seem to agree that Shelvey shouldn’t be let go, and it’s not hard to see why given his graft and ability to unlock a defence from a deeper midfield base.
