Newcastle United have a clutch of contracts to decide on going into 2025 with some big decisions ahead for Eddie Howe.
It’s understood that 11 contracts are up for expiry at St James’ Park including some big first-team hitters that Howe will undoubtedly want to hold on to. Arguably the most urgent of those contracts is Swiss defender Fabian Schar who, on paper, could start talking to European clubs from January 1 about a pre-contract on the continent.
Schar has previously insisted he is happy on Tyneside and at 33 is still a first-team regular and the word is he wants end his career at Newcastle. He last signed a contract on January 8 this year so there is every chance a new deal is waiting to be triggered for the ex-Switzerland international.
Club captain Jamaal Lascelles will also see his contract expire at the end of the season but when many fans thought his existing deal was coming to an end last term, Howe casually announced his deal had been extended to the end of the 2024/25 season.
With the ex-Nottingham Forest man needing to get games under his belt after an ACL injury, he may get the chance to do likewise in the months ahead. Lascelles has been on the books since 2014 and has made several vows of lifting a trophy before he calls it a day at St James’.
But he faces stiff competition to get into the back four with Dan Burn in great form, Schar doing well and Sven Botman due back any day soon. Lascelles was linked with moves to Lyon in France and Besiktas in Turkey in the January window last year.
One soon to be expired contract that is currently under the microscope has to be Martin Dubravka’s deal. The Slovakian star can also start arranging a free transfer from January 1 and there has been intense speculation of the 35-year-old joining Al-Shabab.
Howe is currently fighting to keep Dubravka as he sees him as Nick Pope’s deputy but club chiefs may also see it as the last chance to cash in on the long serving star. Any outgoing deal could be held up until Pope returns from a knee injury.
Callum Wilson’s contract is also set to expire in the summer but Howe, despite the number 9’s struggles with injuries, has talked up the suggestion of a renewal. When asked in November if there was a chance that Wilson could win a new deal, Howe simply replied: “Of course there is.”
Howe will also be open to handing key squad member Emil Krafth another opportunity with the Sweden international running down to the last six months of his contract. Krafth is overcoming a collarbone injury but has proved to be a versatile member of Howe’s squad.
Goalkeeping duo John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie are also down to the last few months of deals signed in the summer with Howe showing he likes to have quality goalkeeping options around in training during his tenure in charge on Tyneside meaning extensions can’t be ruled out. And decisions on youngsters Max Thompson, a young stopper on loan at Chesterfield, Jay Turner-Cooke and Joe White are also expected.
Northern Ireland international Jamal Lewis, who earns £40,000 per week, is set to be released at the end of his contract with Howe making it clear to the left-back that he has no future.
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