Five players Newcastle United should retain under Saudi ownership

These footballers deserve to retain their spot in the squad and can be assets in the future.

Newcastle United are the talk of the town after a successful takeover of the club by new owners. Their new owners, a consortium involving the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has assets worth £300 billion, making the club the richest in the world. The next step in Newcastle’s resurgence would be the arrival of world class players on lucrative contracts. 

As a result, some current players in the squad will lose their spot and perhaps may even leave the club. Steve Bruce is reportedly also under the threat of losing his spot similarly because of changes that will come in due course of time. However, there is no need to completely unroot the squad and start from scratch.

There are a few players in the roster who can still play important roles going forward. Putting focus on those players who deserve to maintain their spot, here is a list of five names that Newcastle United should stick with after Saudi takeover.

5. Jamaal Lascelles

Lascelles is a good center-back and part of the crop of decent Premier League defenders such as James Trakowski and Lewis Dunk. He is the skipper of the side and understands the English game well. The 27-year-old towering center-back needs a better defender alongside him to reinforce the backline. 

An experienced partner alongside him could upgrade the Newcastle United defence a lot with more additions in the holding midfield role. Retaining Lascelles is key for the Magpies, as he is a natural leader and a good captain. He has already played 192 games for the club and could be a key player moving forward. 

4. Miguel Almiron

Miguel Almiron is another player Newcastle United must retain moving forward. The attacking midfielder from Paraguay joined the club from MLS side Atlanta United in 2019 on a five-year contract. The Paraguayan possesses electric pace and is a fabulous dribbler of the ball. Some of the key attributes in his game is the unrelenting pressing and unlimited stamina. Almiron keeps running from the first minute until the last, with sustained energy and effort.

He is breathtakingly quick on his feet and can trouble the opposition with his pace. Almiron will continue to play a key role and will create more attacking opportunities with better players around him. His utility in the attacking third is also important, as he can play as a no.10 or shift in as a wing-forward too. 

3. Joe Willock

Newcastle United permanently signed Joe Willock from Arsenal ahead of this season after a successful loan spell. The fee of €29.4 million made him the second most-expensive transfer by the Magpies. He scored eight goals in 14 Premier League appearances at the back end of the last season, playing a key role in the team's survival. 

Thanks to that performance, the club moved in for the player and acquired his services permanently. The strategy going forward could change but Willock will most likely continue to retain a place in the team. The 21-year-old has a lot of potential and room for growth. He has the ability to become one of the most promising English attacking midfielders in the league.

2. Callum Wilson

Callum Wilson is the fifth most expensive signing at Newcastle United after the club bought him for €22.25 million in the summer of 2020. In his first season with the club, Wilson was very impressive, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 28 appearances across all competitions. He has featured only three times this season while dealing with injuries but has scored two goals already.

Wilson is an experienced striker who has also played for England on the international stage. He is indispensable for Newcastle at the moment and the club will need his services in the future too. Wilson must be retained by the club in the new era as he brings Premier League experience. He could produce even better stats while working with better quality attackers alongside him. 

1. Allan Saint-Maximin

The 24-year-old Frenchman is the most influential player at Newcastle United at the moment. Even when the team is underperforming, the winger produces moments of magic to help the cause. He has been in incredible form this season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in seven league appearances. 

The Frenchman has pace to take on defenders and he has technical brilliance to get out of tough situations. He is one of the best dribblers in the league and his masterful skills on the ball make it a tough job to dispossess him. The 24-year-old is easily one of the best players to play for a team not part of the traditional big six. It is imperative that Newcastle United retain Saint-Maximin’s services and fend off interest from bigger clubs in the transfer market. 

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