Jeff Hendrick and Ciaran Clark leave Newcastle

Eddie Howe has been working with Dan Ashworth to identify transfer targets ahead of next season, but he’s also been tasked with offloading deadwood.

The Newcastle United manager loaned Isaac Hayden to Norwich City and sold Freddie Woodman to Preston North End, but he’s doubled the outgoings this week with Jeff Hendrick and Ciaran Clark being loaned out to Championship clubs.

Hendrick joined Reading until the end of the campaign while Clark joined Sheffield United for the entirety of 2022/23. Neither player stood a chance of getting first-team football this season, so Howe made the right decision.  

Newcastle strengthened their midfield in January with Bruno Guimaraes arriving from Olympique Lyonnais, so Hendrick had too much competition for playing time.

And the Magpies strengthened their defence in January with Dan Burn arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion, so Clark would also struggle for opportunities. It’s telling that both players have dropped down a division for playing time, so Howe’s decision is vindicated.

Newcastle should save themselves some money too, as Reading and Sheff Utd could be paying a portion of Hendrick (£40k-per-week/£2.1m-a-year) and Clark’s (£35k-per-week/£1.8m-a-year) wages for 12 months.

It didn’t appear clubs wanted to sign the pair, so a loan is the next best thing.

In other news, Newcastle won’t sign Isco despite reports