The Chronicle are tipping Newcastle defender Grant Hanley to depart St James’ Park this summer after just one season at the club.
The newspaper’s football reporter Chris Waugh reports that the former Blackburn Rovers captain will be deemed surplus to requirements after making just 16 appearances in all competitions since his £5.5m move from Ewood Park.
Hanley started the first game of the season against Fulham but was quickly dropped from the starting lineup after the 1-0 defeat. His next start in the league came only in early February when he started alongside Ciaran Clark in the home victory over Derby County.
He then had to wait until mid March for another game against Birmingham City, before starting back to back league matches for the first time when he was selected to play against Burton Albion.
His last match came in the 3-1 defeat to Ipswich Town last month, and it is telling that despite Jamaal Lascelles requiring a hernia operation for a number of months ago, Rafa Benitez did not trust Hanley enough to deputise in place of the Newcastle captain.
