OPINION
Things were already looking bleak for Newcastle United winger Kenedy after what’s been a bitterly disappointing season for the Brazilian, but after the past two games his Magpies career now appears to be hanging by a thread.
The 23-year-old is on loan from Chelsea, of course, but Newcastle always have the option to bring him in permanently in the summer – although not one written into his contract.
But the chances of Rafael Benitez sanctioning such a move appear to be close to nil. The speedy winger, on a reported £25,000-per-week [Source: Spotrac], has been left out of the Spaniard’s last two match day squads in a damning indictment of where he stands in the Magpies pecking order at present.
Due to the way he has been playing this campaign, though, there would likely be widespread protests if the club did sign Kenedy permanently this summer.
He excelled in the second half of last season after his January arrival, but has been completely anonymous this time around. He was expected to be a key player for the club, but is now one of the last options Benitez turns to on the wings.
Club record signing Miguel Almiron’s arrival in the winter transfer window was a massive blow to Kenedy’s first team hopes, with Ayoze Perez and Christian Atsu already ahead of him in Benitez’s plans. Even Matt Ritchie would be preferred to the Brazilian, even if he has been playing at left wing back of late.
The fact that Benitez hasn’t deemed Kenedy fit for a place on the substitutes bench, at least, in the last two games virtually spells the end for him on Tyneside.
It must now be considered a huge shock if Newcastle make a permanent move for the disappointing youngster this summer.
