According to Chronicle, Fabian Schar could be on his way out of Newcastle United this summer. The centre-back is apparently attracting interest from clubs in Italy amid uncertain future at St. James’ Park. Schar’s current contract expires at the end of next season, meaning this could be an ideal time for Newcastle to cash in before the defender is available on a free transfer.
Fabian Schar’s downfall at Newcastle United
Schar has had a difficult time at Newcastle United following the departure of Rafael Benitez. Although new manager Steve Bruce did consider him to be a first-choice centre-back, the Swiss international lost his place in the side since the turn of the year. In fact, he has made only three Premier League starts in this calendar year.
Schar’s downfall has mainly stemmed from Bruce shifting from three/five at the back setup to a more traditional back four in 2020. As a result, he has had to accommodate only two centre-backs in the starting lineup.
Federico Fernandez and club captain Jamaal Lascelles have largely been the main choice centre-backs, with Schar operating as a second fiddle. Although the ex-Hoffenheim star has featured in the last two games, Bruce had deployed him in a rather bizarre defensive midfield role, due to the absence of Isaac Hayden, who picked up an injury against West Ham.
Is selling Schar a good idea for Newcastle?
Newcastle United are still unsure about their future amid takeover talks, and that could have a massive impact on the club’s financial firepower. Nonetheless, there still has to be a proper transition, where the existing players could come in handy in co-operating with the potential new signings.
Schar, unfortunately, is not among the players Newcastle United value in their ranks. The Swiss’ more technical and positional oriented game is not exactly suited to Bruce’s style of play.
However, a lot could depend on how things pan out within the coming weeks. Saudi’s piracy and human rights record has made things infinitely more difficult for Newcastle to undergo a smooth takeover. So essentially, the Magpies will still have to wait and see.
In the meantime, it would perhaps be a better idea for them to keep hold of their star players. Schar, in particular, does bring a more composed presence when compared to Lascelles and Fernandez while his versatility has already helped Bruce in the absence of Hayden. Hence, Newcastle must keep hold of the ex-Hoffenheim defender for the time being.
