OPINION
With every functioning Premier League team it is imperative to get rid of the deadwood at the club. Newcastle United are certainly no difference.
They have a bit of a dilemma with fourth choice goalkeeper Rob Elliot right now. The Chronicle reported on Monday that the Republic of Ireland international wants to remain with the Magpies despite being way down the pecking order.
However, Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has certainly had enough of the 33-year-old. He had Elliot training away from the first team squad with the Under-23s throughout the final stretch of this season, because he only wanted those who had a realistic chance of playing involved in his first team training sessions.
It’s clear that the club need to dump the ‘keeper this summer, despite his wishes. He is simply a drain on the team’s resources at this point. He’s on £25,000-per-week at the moment [Source: Spotrac], a not so insignificant sum for a fourth choice shot-stopper.
So he’s costing the club money for no on-field product and no significant presence on the training ground or in the dressing room. What, pray tell, is his function on Tyneside at the moment?
He may well be settled in the area and want to remain a Newcastle player, but that shouldn’t matter to the club itself. They need to do what is best for the team, and getting Elliot’s wages off the bill would be very good indeed for the Magpies.
Benitez could use the extra £25,000-per-week to sign a player who he may otherwise have been priced out of. That sort of cash a week can be all the difference in negotiations over a signing’s potential salary.
Elliot is past his best and has long been merely a reserve option for Newcastle. It’s time that the club moved him on for good this summer.
