2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Aaron Stokes)
Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar is poised to extend his stay on Tyneside by signing a contract extension in the near future. The Swiss defender made his 200th appearance for the club in Monday's defeat to West Ham United, commenting on the achievement by saying 'here's to many more'. Schar is out of contract in the summer but Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is desperate to keep the veteran, who cost the Magpies a mere £3m back in 2018.
"He has been sensational," Howe said of the 32-year-old on Friday. "He is integral to what we are doing. His use of the ball, technical qualities and how he defends have been very strong strong.
He is an important player and we would love to keep him." Earlier this month Schar himself spoke out about the prospect of a new deal, insisting he has no desire to depart the north east any time soon. The former Basel star admits there has never been any possibility of swapping Newcastle for any other club since Howe's arrival, with his situation as uncomplicated as ever heading into the final seven months of his deal.
"I feel super comfortable at Newcastle, I've been playing for years and I have a coach who backs me," Schar told Blue Sport. "Everything is right for me. I would love to stay.
The club and coach know what they have in me. "Basically, it's always happened relatively quickly in recent years. The club wanted to keep me, I wanted to stay.
That's why it was never a big deal. There are more complicated cases than mine." One of the more 'complicated' cases Schar speaks of could be the future of Callum Wilson.
The striker is another out of contract in the summer of 2025 and an impressive run of form is needed after being sidelined since the final game of last season. Wilson is another who has expressed a desire to stay at St James' Park but the 32-year-old will be putting any talk of his future on the back-burner to focus on his football. "I think Callum has loads of incentives internally built within him," said Howe.
"I wouldn't necessarily have to ask him about those. He is a very driven person and does regularly set himself goals. "I'm sure his contract is on his mind but I think it will be in the back part of his brain because he will be focusing on the here and now and doesn't things that can affect his long term future for the positive.
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