Newcastle United are ready to tie down key stars Fabian Schar and Jonjo Shelvey to new deals as the duo continues to impress under Eddie Howe.
According to Daily Telegraph, Newcastle United are planning on handing new deals to key duo Jonjo Shelvey and Fabian Schar before the season comes to a close. These players have re-established themselves as pivotal figures following Eddie Howe’s appointment, with the club ready to reward them for their efforts.
Newcastle United were in a dire situation before the January window, with some even predicting their downfall before the new year began. Fortunately for the Magpies, relegation rivals Burnley, Watford, and Norwich City had been dismal in their respective games, which gave the Magpies hope for survival.
Eddie Howe expertly executed a January transfer window plan with immense backing from the new owners. The club signed several high profile players to strengthen their current squad options in a bid to avoid relegation. Among them was central defender Dan Burn, who left Brighton for Newcastle.
Dan Burn has since formed a solid partnership at the back with Fabian Schar, who was a forgotten man under Steve Bruce. Only after Howe’s arrival has the Swiss international found his rhythm again and continues to impress with each passing game.
Schar has been a difference-maker for Newcastle in central defence, helping them concede just thrice in the last five games. After being one of the worst teams defensively before January, this turnaround is remarkable. They have stitched together a six-game unbeaten run, which has pushed them out of the relegation zone for now.
Newcastle are now planning to hand Schar a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, leading to interest from clubs in Italy. But there are no guarantees over a starting berth next season, considering the Magpies are expected to bring in a top-class centre-back in the summer.
He could provide quality depth with Howe being able to count on his experience when needed. Hence, the Magpies are prepared to extend his contract well before the current season ends. There is also a new deal in the works for midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who, alongside Schar, has been among the most improved stars in the first-team squad.
After an indifferent start to his Newcastle career, being a divisive figure among fans, Shelvey has come to the fore under Howe. He has been putting in consistent displays from midfield in recent weeks, which has massively helped the club rise above the relegation zone.
While he still has a contract until 2023, Newcastle want to extend the deal further to keep hold of him for the foreseeable future. It would be an interesting idea to hand new contracts to these experienced campaigners, who could become even more crucial in the coming years as the club looks to transition from a relegation-threatened side to a team capable of competing for top honours.