OPINION
The situation in Newcastle United’s midfield ranks is an enthralling one.
There are, ultimately, five options at Rafa Benitez’s disposal when everybody is fit.
Sean Longstaff is nailed on to be the Toon Army’s new darling for as long as he sees fit. Mo Diame is in a precarious contract situation that could just as easily see him stay as go in the summer. Isaac Hayden has openly admitted he wants to leave for personal reasons despite forcing his way back into the side in recent times, while Jonjo Shelvey is supposedly the subject of interest from West Ham, according to the Northern Echo.
And then there’s Ki Sung-yeung.
Initially, it looked as if the South Korean might be the Magpies most consistent midfield performer this season.
Intelligent on the ball but not afraid of the hard yards, he seemed like the kind of selfless worker who could become a crucial foundation for Rafa Benitez’s side.
International duty at the turn of the year, capped off with a lengthy injury absence following a knock sustained while away with his country, has meant that the £40,000-a-week midfielder [Spotrac] has fallen significantly down the pecking order.
Whereas once he might have looked like one of the few midfield options nailed on to stay at the end of the season, now it’s not hard to envisage him being shipped out as well.
Monday night’s clash with Arsenal could prove to be decent indicator of where Rafa Benitez’s priorities lie.
Ki, Diame, and Shelvey will presumably all be available, and with very few games left now, you would assume that he will have one eye on next season.
Where that leaves Ki is anybody’s guess.
