Dan Barlaser has joined Rotherham on loan, Newcastle United have confirmed.
The Magpies announced via their official Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon that Barlaser, 22, has joined the Yorkshire club on a season-long temporary deal and has also agreed a new contract at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have not confirmed how long Barlaser’s new deal is, but his previous agreement was due to expire at the end of next season.
Newcastle United midfielder Dan Barlaser has signed a new deal with the club, and will spend the 2019/20 season on loan at @OfficialRUFC. Good luck, Dan!
👉🏽 https://t.co/M5tyPA8bFw #NUFC pic.twitter.com/y3OTNitZ9i
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 3, 2019
OPINION
As he is now 22-years-old, the decision to keep Barlaser on is quite an odd one. The Gateshead-born midfielder has only ever made three senior appearances for the Magpies and the fact that he will spend next season on loan in League One suggests that he is rarely going to become good enough to play in the Premier League. Barlaser has worryingly never played above the third tier of English league football, and while loaning him out is not the worst option, handing him a contract extension seems a bit of a risk. Barlaser will have to impress at Rotherham to make that worthwhile, but last season he had an average time at mid-table Accrington Stanley. Would it be better just to try and cash in on Barlaser on a permanent basis? Or are Newcastle clinging on to the hope that he impresses at Rotherham, returns next summer and then moves on for a higher fee? Not many League One clubs pay transfer fees for players, so he would more than likely have to attract the attention of a Championship side for that to happen.
