As the season draws to a close, clubs will begin planning their summer spend and drawing up shortlists of potential transfers targets. A task that is made twice as hard for Newcastle United’s scouting team as, yet again, Premier League safety is far from secure.
Graham Carr and his team are responsible for identifying targets for newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez, as well as developing contingency plans in case the Magpies fail in their desperate bid for survival.
Newcastle are expected to lose a number of key players should they suffer the dreaded drop to the Championship, but one departure appears to be all-but-confirmed.
According to The Chronicle, the club’s hierarchy are resigned to losing Dutch international Daryl Janmaat this summer, with the right-back keen on testing himself in the Champions League.
Benitez will demand a say on the matter – though his hand may be forced if Italian giants Juventus, who The Chronicle claim are interested, or Arsenal come calling.
Carr will already have several potential replacements in his sights, but here are five candidates I believe Newcastle should consider: