Newcastle manager Eddie Howe keen to re-sign in-form Fabian Schar

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has said Newcastle United are keen to re-sign in-form defender Fabian Schar, with the Switzerland international in the final few months of his Magpies deal.

As part of Schar’s contract, a one-year extension was triggered last summer, which came as a surprise to many as it was widely expected the center-half would walk out after falling out of favor with previous manager Steve Bruce.

However, under Eddie Howe, Schar has been restored to the side and is shining. The Swiss has been one of Newcastle’s star performers, alongside new central defensive partner Dan Burn, in a side that has kept three clean sheets in a seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

And it sounds like Howe is keen to reward that run with a new deal for the player, who was a Rafa Benitez bargain buy from Deportivo de La Coruna in the summer of 2018.

“Fabian is someone, as I’ve said before, I’ve always admired,” said Howe.

“He is a really good footballing center-back. The most important thing for me is that he has defended very well. He is another one that is trained really well.

“We’re aware of his contract situation and we’ll be sitting down and discussing things with his agent very shortly.”

Schar is not the only player at Newcastle whose deal is well into its final year.

Sean Longstaff, once a $46 million target for Manchester United, will become a free agent at the end of the season.

Although Longstaff has been unable to force his way into the side for a few weeks, Howe rates the midfielder highly.

The head coach, whose side take on Brighton & Hove Albion at St James’ Park tomorrow, said: “I love Sean, and I haven’t probably displayed that by my team selection, but that’s only because it’s a really strong area