5 players Newcastle could sell to raise some transfer funds

With Newcastle United firmly clear of the relegation places, attention has now turned to how Rafael Benitez can build on this success and get the club challenging for trophies and European competition once more.

As long as Mike Ashley is still in charge at Newcastle United it is likely that Rafael Benitez's budget will be limited compared to their rivals.

Although he might be reluctant to do so, the Spaniard might have to move some players on in order to raise some much-needed transfer funds.

In this article who he could afford to let go and who might bring in the most money.

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#5 Jamaal Lascelles

Lascelles has been a real leader for Newcastle this season

This wouldn't be a popular decision with Newcastle fans but the centre-back is undoubtedly one of the club's biggest assets, with Chelsea rumoured to be interested in securing his services for a fee of £30 million.

Lascelles has enjoyed an outstanding season and has been a wonderful captain for the team in their first season back in the Premier League. His form has led to increasing clamour for an England call-up which has yet to be forthcoming.

However what many people forget is that Lascelles wasn't in Rafael Benitez's first choice eleven at the start of the season.

When Newcastle lined up on the opening day against Tottenham Hotspur they did so with Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark as their centre-halves.

Unfortunately, a horror tackle from Harry Kane on Lejeune in the first half of that game let Lascelles back into the team and when Lejeune found himself fully fit it was Clark that was dispensed to the bench.

Lejeune has been outstanding in Newcastle's recent revival and Clark very rarely puts a foot wrong and is significantly better on the ball than Lascelles.

Not many Newcastle fans would want to see Lascelles leave the club but the club clearly has options in the position and Benitez might be tempted to cash in.

#4 Karl Darlow

Karl Darlow has often found himself on bench duty this season

Darlow has flirted with being Newcastle's number one goalkeeper throughout his time at the club without ever quite managing to establish himself, playing 58 times in total since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2014.

He was impressive for the vast majority of the promotion season in 2016-17, playing 36 games and has featured 12 times in 2017-18 and was actually the man in possession of the shirt before Benitez signed Martin Dubravka on loan in January, which saw Darlow consigned to bench duty once more.

He almost signed for Middlesbrough last summer in a deal thought to be worth £5 million, and Benitez could expect to receive that sort of money again if Darlow were to be sold.

Importantly Benitez has cover in that area of the pitch. He has Rob Elliott currently on the books, while he also has Freddie Woodman and Matz Sels currently out on loan.

Benitez can afford to ship at least one of them out.

#3 Dwight Gayle

Dwight Gayle hasn't been able to hit the heights of last season

Despite scoring 23 goals in just 32 goals in his first season at the club, Dwight Gayle hasn't been able to match those lofty standards in the Premier League scoring just five goals this season.

While often a threat to opposing defences his finishing isn't quite clinical enough, demonstrated by a shot accuracy this season of just 46%. For a team that is trying to establish themselves as a force in the Premier League once more this simply isn't good enough.

However, he is clearly a class above in the tier below and according to Transfermarkt Benitez could expect to bring in approximately £9 million for the Championship-proven striker.

#2 Aleksandar Mitrovic

Mitrovic has been on fire for Fulham since signing in January

A player popular with Newcastle fans but clearly out of favour with the manager, Mitrovic made just one start for the club in the first half of the season.

Benitez's decision to loan him out in January, while initially unpopular has proved a masterstroke with the Serbian finding his scoring boots once more on loan at Fulham.

Not only has this aided Fulham's promotion push but it has also put Mitrovic back in the shop window and reminded everyone of his goal-scoring prowess.

If he has a good World Cup for Serbia then his value could skyrocket. Benitez was rumoured to want at least £15 million to sell him in January.

Newcastle's best chance of getting the price they want for him would be if Mitrovic manages to lead Fulham to promotion when surely a permanent arrangement between the two clubs would be explored.

#1 Jacob Murphy

Jacob Murphy has flopped since his big money move to Newcastle

Rafael Benitez doesn't get an awful lot wrong in the transfer market but Jacob Murphy has proved to be an expensive flop.

The self-professed Newcastle fan was signed for an undisclosed fee (thought to be around £10 million) from Norwich in the summer and it was expected that he would provide some much-needed pace and penetration from wide areas.

Unfortunately for Murphy and Newcastle that hasn't proved to be the case. He has looked lightweight and his ability on the ball looks limited at best.

He has managed just the solitary goal in 24 appearances and doesn't look worth persevering with.

Newcastle should cut their losses and take whatever they can get for him.