Newcastle need to focus on Javier Manquillo contract, after new Federico Fernandez deal

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Newcastle United recently saw Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie commit their futures at St James’ Park, something that defender Federico Fernandez did on Tuesday.

The Magpies confirmed (official website) that they have exercised a one-year contract extension in Fernandez’s deal and he’s now with them until 2021.

The 31-year-old is a no-nonsense centre-back that is a real presence in the defence and an aerial threat in both penalty boxes too.

With Fernandez’s immediate future resolved, Steve Bruce’s side should now turn their attention to teammate Javier Manquillo and try warp up his current contract situation.

Manquillo is a player that is out of contract with Newcastle at the end of the season, meaning as it stands he will be exiting in the summer and will be free to join another club.

But the 25-year-old right-back improved significantly in the last few years on Tyneside and is a very strong one-on-one defender that rarely lets his side down.

He was signed for £4.5million (Sun) back in 2017 from Atletico Madrid and he’s turned out to be immense value for money.

The Spanish full-back can have an important role to play in Bruce’s squad moving forward if he’s kept on board and there is no reason not to offer him a new deal like some of his teammates.

Manquillo’s return to the team in the last two league games has seen them keep back-to-back clean sheets and earn another four points that creeps them closer towards Premier League safety for another year.