Newcastle United axed several high earners from the wage bill ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. Offloading five first-team players freed up coffers for the Magpies to re-sign Joe Willock for £25million.
Technically, Mike Ashley did not improve Steve Bruce’s squad last summer as the former Arsenal man starred for United on loan during the backend of the previous season. Culling Yoshinori Muto, Florian Lejeune, Christian Atsu, Andy Carroll and Henri Saivet from the squad did, however, free up space for the five January arrivals once the £300million takeover was completed.
Another exodus is expected on Tyneside as Eddie Howe attempts to pave the way for more big-money signings. Those left out of his 25-man squad are likely to leave while others will depart to pursue guaranteed first-team football.
ChronicleLive profiles the five players who left last year to find out how they fared since leaving St James’ Park…
Yoshinori Muto
Rafa Benitez convinced Ashley to fork out £9million on Muto in 2018 and he proved to be one of the Spaniard’s worst signings. Just 28 appearances across three seasons resulted in two goals and he was shipped out to Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe on a free transfer.
The striker’s luck has not improved since returning to his native country as he tore his MCL at the start of 2022. Despite this, his goal return has been respectable in the J1 League, with Muto bagging nine goals in 25 games.
Florian Lejeune
A vocal section of Newcastle fans were displeased when Lejeune was allowed to leave last year. He reunited with former Toon teammate Joselu at Alaves and to say 2021-22 was a disappointment would be an understatement.
The La Liga side finished rock-bottom of the division, seven points adrift from safety and will be playing in the Liga Segunda next season. Perhaps Newcastle were right to get rid, after all…
Christian Atsu
Atsu struggled for game time at St James’ Park once the club returned to the Premier League but his contribution was vital during the 2016-17 Championship-winning campaign. Supporters wished him well once his Newcastle contract expired and he joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Raed a few weeks after his departure.
Unfortunately for Atsu, his first season in the Middle East has been injury-ravaged, with the Ghanian making just eight appearances.
Andy Carroll
It is never dull in the life of the big Geordie and 2021-22 was no different. Released by Newcastle after a failed return to Tyneside, Carroll had a few months off before Reading took a punt on the target man, offering him a one-month deal.
After a successful stint at the Royals, he reunited with former boss Bruce at West Brom and has had mixed success - netting three goals for the Baggies. His contract runs out at the end of next month, meaning the 6ft 4in striker could be on the move again.
Henri Saivet
Henri who?
Saivet is somewhat of an enigma at Newcastle after barely featuring during his five-and-a-half-year stint at St James’ Park. When he did return to the side in December 2016, he marked his return with a stunning free-kick… only to never be seen again.
Since leaving United the Senegalese international has not yet found a new deal. Saivet’s situation remains one of the great mysteries of recent times.
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