Newcastle United are in active discussions with defender Fabian Schar over a new contract, with the club keen to secure his future beyond this season.
The 34-year-old is due to become a free agent at the end of June, leaving Newcastle working against the clock to tie him down to an extension.
Reports from the Shields Gazette indicate that talks are ongoing with Schar’s representatives as the club looks to retain the Swiss international.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has publicly confirmed the negotiations, expressing his personal desire to see the defender remain at the club going forward.
“I’ve had a few discussions with Fabby,” Howe said on Friday, revealing that formal talks have now moved to a higher level within the organisation.
“Discussions are now with Ross [Wilson] and [Schar’s] agent, and we hope to reach a successful conclusion,” Howe added, referencing the club’s sporting director.
Howe made clear just how much Schar’s absence through injury has already been felt, highlighting specific qualities that have been missing from Newcastle’s play.
“We’ve missed his distribution and his passing from deep has been a big miss for us,” Howe said, also pointing to the way Schar helps accelerate the team’s attacks.
The Newcastle boss left no doubt about his assessment of the defender’s overall contribution, using strong words to describe his impact on the club.
“I think Fabian’s been unbelievable for us,” Howe said, though he was careful to temper expectations by adding that nothing is finalised until contracts are signed.
“We wouldn’t be keeping anyone that we didn’t feel could help the team,” Howe stated, underlining that Schar’s potential extension is based purely on footballing merit.
The manager also stressed his belief that Schar still has plenty to contribute, saying “I still feel he has a lot to offer” as Newcastle aim to bounce back from a difficult season.
Schar has been part of the Newcastle setup since joining the club in 2018, becoming an established presence in their defensive line over that period.
Newcastle will be hoping sporting director Ross Wilson can bring negotiations to a positive conclusion before Schar’s current deal expires at the end of June.
The post Eddie Howe Pushes For Fabian Schar To Sign New Newcastle Contract appeared first on Gooner Daily.
