£40,000-a-week Newcastle man set for potential wage decision as London club circles - report

By Danny Wright

Newcastle outcast Grant Hanley may have to make a big decision and take a pay cut with Championship side Fulham interest in his signature, according to a report.

The Mirror claimed in their live transfer blog on Sunday [05:51am] that the London club are circling Hanley, 25, but he will potentially have to take a cut in wages to leave St. James' Park.

It is understood that the centre-back is earning £40,000-a-week on the five-year deal he signed last summer when he arrived from Blackburn, and his high earnings have already put off Derby in their recent bid to sign him.

West London Sport has reported earlier this week that Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is an admirer of Hanley, but the Cottagers' statistical analysis team are said to be unconvinced by him.

The 27-times Scotland international is yet to feature in the matchday squad of any of Newcastle's opening three Premier League fixtures, but he also barely featured last season in their Championship winning campaign by playing just 16 times in all competitions.

Football Insider Verdict

The signing of Hanley was perhaps one of the worst pieces of business that Newcastle have done in the last couple of years. To give a player that was never going to be anywhere near the first-team such a high wage for such a long time was ridiculous, and the Magpies are rightfully paying the price for that now. Not many Championship teams will want to spend £40,000-a-week and no Premier League side would want Hanley because he is nowhere near good enough to play in the top-flight. With the earnings that he's on, the Scot may just be happy to sit in the reserves for a couple of seasons and make a mint.

In other Newcastle news, the Magpies are negotiating a deal to sign this Argentina international.

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