Loads of Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media to reports by the Chronicle, claiming the club offered out Ki Sung-Yueng and Christian Atsu.
Head coach Steve Bruce needs to reduce the number of players in the senior fold at St. James’ Park ahead of Friday’s deadline, with Tottenham Hotspur full-back Danny Rose due to join on loan.
The 29-cap England international is expected to link up with Bruce in the North East until the end of the season, having seen Managing Director Lee Charnley agree to pay a £2million loan fee to land the 29-year-old.
Rose would likely take the place of Paul Dummett in the boss’ 25-man Premier League squad after the 5-cap Wales star sustained a tendon injury that will end his campaign.
United chiefs are still looking for ways to trim the senior fold ahead of Friday’s deadline, and have offered Atsu and Ki to clubs in the last few days in the hopes of offloading their £30,000 and £40,000-per-week respective contracts.
Should Bruce keep either of Ki and Atsu?
Ki
Atsu
Both
Neither
Bruce named a full 25-man Premier League squad last summer that did not feature the likes of Jack Colback, Henri Saivet, Achraf Lazaar, Rolando Aarons and Jamie Sterry.
The boss has since added Inter Milan’s Valentino Lazaro and FC Schalke 04’s Nabil Bentaleb, but has only seen Jetro Willems return to Eintracht Frankfurt after rupturing his cruciate ligaments against Chelsea.
Ki has rarely been a player Bruce has considered since his appointment in 2019, with the £4.05million-rated midfielder only featuring in four matches in all competitions – partly due to a minor knock that sidelined the summer free-agent throughout December.
Bruce has been more inclined to award 2021-free agent Atsu outings than he has with Ki, with the 28-year-old Ghana international awarded minutes in 18 top-flight fixtures as well as each FA and Carabao Cup contest.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Atsu and Ki being offered out for late January transfers…
Take Joelinton out the squad. Sorted.
— Its Bryson (@Eric_Bryson_89) January 29, 2020
Why? Is it because of wages?
— Michael⚫️⚪️ (@RoyalRitchie) January 29, 2020
Hope Atsu gets chopped! Terrible isn’t he @ljbotch 😂
— Kevin Little (@Kev_Little_) January 30, 2020
Get rid of Krafth, he’s rubbish 👍
— Tony Shaw (@shawt1974) January 29, 2020
What about Dummet and Willems?? They are out for the rest of the season, so could we not just “remove” them??
— beth (@bethmann99) January 29, 2020
Take squad number off Joelinton?
— Paul Daglish (@daglish_paul) January 29, 2020
Shame about atsu good pro but sadly not good enough for the prem wish him luck where ever he goes
— Kieren Wilkinson (@KierenW6) January 29, 2020
Ki, Atsu? Matty on loan? manquillo? Elliot?
— Gianfranco Shola (@youmeandnufc) January 29, 2020
I’d bin Yedlin. Massively overrated and offers nothing in offensive or defence. Lazaro and Manquillo for right wingback spot. I’d even put Krafth ahead of Yedlin. We dont need 4 right wingbacks #nufc
— Bez (@Bez2727) January 29, 2020
Please not Ki. He is instrumental and a key player.
— Chris (@magpieranger99) January 29, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club are NOT interested in signing an 11-time Champions League goalscorer this month.