... ready to promote Massadio Haidara to become their first choice left-back next season, which will open the door for Davide Santon to leave the club this summer.
Haidara’s future was undecided before the end of the campaign with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew deliberately pitching the young left-back into action at the end of the season to see whether he had made progress during a difficult period that was pockmarked with injuries.
The Journal understands that in the end-of-season debrief it was decided that he was ready for an extended run in the team – despite reports in France that included him with a crop of their available French players that Newcastle have circulated to Ligue 1 suitors.