Player left out of pre-season squad – just six months after agreeing Newcastle United transfer
Two former Newcastle United players could be the lookout for new clubs this summer.
Nottingham Forest are prepared to part ways with both Chris Wood and Jonjo Shelvey – just six months after signing the pair from Newcastle United.
Wood moved to the City Ground, initially on loan, midway through the January transfer window before being joined by Shelvey on deadline day.
New Zealand international Wood then triggered a £15million obligation to buy clause after making his third appearance. The permanent transfer was made official in June.
However, according to The Athletic, Forest are already considering moving Wood on. And the same goes for Shelvey.
The 31-year-old registered just one goal in seven appearances before missing the remaining 12 Premier League matches with a season-ending injury.
Wood’s injury was, of course, was out of his control, but Shelvey’s downfall is very much his own doing after falling out of favour under Steve Cooper.
The 31-year-old has made eight appearances for Forest – including Newcastle’s late 2-1 win at the City Ground – but hasn’t played since the 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa in early April.
Later in the month, Cooper held a team meeting ahead of the trip to Liverpool and told Shelvey he would be on the bench for the second successive Premier League match. That provoked a furious response from Shelvey – according to the Daily Telegraph – and as a result, was told to stay at home while his teammates travelled to Anfield.
Although Cooper has played down talk of a falling out, Shelvey wasn’t part of the celebratory dressing room picture after the win against Arsenal which secured Forest’s top-flight status, despite being present at the stadium.
Forest travel to Spain for a pre-season camp on Tuesday and the former Liverpool midfielder has been excluded from the travelling party. Sheffield United are reportedly showing interest in Shelvey.
