Newcastle do NOT have buy-back clauses in the contracts of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, Confidential can reveal.
Anderson’s excellent form of late with third-placed Nottingham Forest has led fans to wonder whether Newcastle included a provision to buy back their academy graduate at a future date. However, we understand that no such clause exists, and nor does it in the deal that took Minteh to Brighton over the same weekend back in June.
Newcastle were not negotiating from a position of strength in either transfer, given they needed to sell to avoid breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules, which would have led to a points deduction.
Indeed, while Anderson was sold for £35million, that was on the condition Newcastle paid around £20m for goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to move in the opposite direction. Winger Minteh went to Brighton for £33m and, combined, the deals satisfied the PSR calculation.
Anderson has been outstanding in recent weeks and a Premier League XI from the first half of the season – based on statistics and complied by Sky Sports – had the 22-year-old in its midfield.
It remains a point of regret among staff and players that Anderson had to be sacrificed, and his performances at the City Ground have only intensified that sense of loss.
Newcastle do not have buy-back clauses for Elliot Anderson, pictured, and Yankuba Minteh
Minteh, centre, was sold to Brighton for £33m to help Newcastle satisfy PSR calculations
Anderson has been outstanding this season and it remains a regret he had to be sacrificed
NEW TRAFFORD SCOUTING MISSION
Newcastle have sent head of recruitment Steve Nickson to check on James Trafford – but an offer for the Burnley goalkeeper is not anticipated in January.
Confidential reported last month that the club will make an attempt to sign the 22-year-old in 2025. Eddie Howe and recruitment staff are said to be agreed on the Cumbrian having the attributes and profile they want to compete with and eventually succeed No 1 Nick Pope. His distribution is a particular point of attraction.
And we can reveal Nickson has been in attendance at recent games, including Burnley’s goalless draw at Middlesbrough on December 29. Trafford kept a clean sheet that day and was especially good with his feet.
Sources say it is almost certainly not a deal for this month but will be revisited come the summer. Newcastle were close to signing the England Under-21 star back in August.
Meanwhile, Mail Sport revealed on Thursday that the club will try to persuade Martin Dubrvaka to stay beyond January. There is an offer on the table from Saudi Arabia and the Slovakian has indicated he wants to go. But Newcastle want to keep him given he is currently first choice – Pope is sidelined with a knee injury – and he is playing extremely well.
On that, Pope is not yet in training and, while the hope is for him to be back around the time of the Bournemouth home game on January 18, he will still need to prove his fitness when returning to full training at Benton.
Newcastle are continuing to watch James Trafford, but a move is not expected in January
Trafford is viewed as having the characteristics to compete with and succeed Nick Pope
ISAK IS OK!
Alexander Isak is unlikely to feature against Bromley this weekend as Eddie Howe rotates his squad, but it’s understood the hamstring issue he felt at Arsenal on Tuesday will not keep him out of next week’s Premier League games.
Isak complained of a tightness at half-time during the 2-0 win at the Emirates and was withdrawn just after the hour. That was an attempt to protect the Swede and it is thought an injury that would see him miss matches has been avoided.
Likewise, Sven Botman felt a tightness in his groin during the first half but managed to complete the full game. Newcastle are hopeful he will also be fine for Wednesday’s visit of Wolves followed by the home game with Bournemouth three days later.
I spoke to one of Botman’s team-mates briefly after the game on Tuesday and he was amazed at how well he had performed given it was only his second match back after 10 months out with a knee injury. The respect for the Dutchman in the dressing-room is extremely high and that was evidenced by half a dozen of the senior squad turning out to watch his comeback for the Under-21s last month.
The centre-back is also set to be rested for Sunday’s FA Cup tie, when Fabian Schar will likely partner Lloyd Kelly at centre-back.
One team-mate was amazed at Sven Botman’s display so soon after returning from injury
KRAFU IS BACK!
Some more good news on the fitness front is the return to training of Emil Krafth.
Eddie Howe said last week that the Swede was on the grass but not yet in contact training. He has been out since November after breaking his collarbone.
However, I’m told that Krafth has now stepped up his comeback and, with three home games in seven days next week, he is set to get some minutes against Bromley on Sunday.
The defender was in tremendous form before injury struck and he was living up to his ‘Krafu’ nickname.
A GOOD NIGHT BUT A LATE NIGHT
It was a late night for the Newcastle contingent who flew back from Arsenal on Tuesday. The Samson Executive Jet Centre to which they usually return was closed, which meant landing at Teesside and then getting a coach back to Tyneside. Most got to bed after 3am.
Eddie Howe has given the players a couple of days off, so many stayed in London before heading elsewhere. It is well deserved given their remarkable run of seven straight victories.
And on the subject of travel, Howe might not have liked the scenes on the trains coming back from London on Wednesday morning. It was more like a travel agency as fans booked hotels and trains for the Carabao Cup final in March!
But as Howe said to assistant Jason Tindall on full-time after the 2-0 win over Arsenal… ‘Calm, calm!’.
Emil Krafth has stepped up his comeback and is set to get some minutes against Bromley
Eddie Howe has given players a couple of days off following the semi-final first leg victory
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BRAZ-AL!
A little moment that may have been missed following Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Tottenham last weekend.
As captain Bruno Guimaraes left the field, he gave a fist-pump and a roar towards what looked like the home fans. It wasn’t, it was Alan Shearer on the touchline!
The Toon legend was working as a pundit and enjoyed the moment of celebration with the Brazilian, returning the acknowledgement.
But the celebration of the week goes to Bruno and his son, dancing around their living room and chanting ‘Newcastle, Newcastle’ following the win at Arsenal, for which he was suspended.
ROMAIN INTEREST IN RUINS?
Newcastle face the prospect of missing out on Millwall’s Romain Esse this month.
Scouts have watched the 19-year-old midfielder-cum-winger in the Championship this season.
However, sources in London say Crystal Palace want to get a deal done now and have made contact with Millwall.
My information remains that Newcastle are very unlikely to do anything on an incoming front in the next few weeks. Only injury would change that.
Bruno Guimaraes gave a fist-pump and roar to Alan Shearer following the victory at Tottenham
Newcastle are face missing out on Millwall’s Romain Esse as Crystal Palace push for a deal
TOON TEASER!
It’s Toon Teaser time. Last week’s question was: Can you name the 13 players to have played for Newcastle and Coventry since 1992… The answers were; Craig Bellamy, Jacob Murphy, Callum Wilson, Darren Huckerby, Patrick van Aanholt, Adam Armstrong, Leon Best, Gael Bigirimana, Kevin Gallacher, Brian Kerr, Micky Quinn, Peter Ramage and Jamie Sterry.
This week’s puzzler is… can you name the NINE players to have played for Newcastle and Hull since 1992? Good luck!
