BREAKING NEWS: The Newcastle United defender, who was left off the first team squad, is anticipated to leave in the summer.
As his contract is slated to expire at the end of the 2023–24 season, Kell Watts is expected to depart Newcastle United this summer.
Until the end of the season, the 24-year-old defender is on loan at League One’s Wigan Athletic, but he hasn’t exactly made an impression. There is a plan in place to finalize the agreement this summer.
Prior to going on loan, Watts was a consistent member of the squad, starting 14 games and adding five more as a substitute.
However, Watts hasn’t been a part of any Wigan matchday lineup since the beginning of the year.
The defender, whose transfer to his loan team is still pending, finds himself in an odd situation where he has an expiring contract at his original club and is out of favor there.
“Kell has got big competition in his position,” Wigan boss Shaun Maloney remarked in response to a question concerning Watts’ protracted absence from the first team. He is a really talented individual and professional.”
After a productive loan stint with The Latics earlier in the season, Watts came to Wigan with great expectations.
The center-back played with Wigan during the 2021–2022 season, where he contributed to their League One championship. Due to injury, Watts’s season-long loan at Peterborough United was cut short to just 11 appearances across all competitions.
Watts stated on the Wigan website that he was “really looking forward to doing” when the opportunity to rejoin the team first arose. It’s good to be back home because the last time I was here, it felt like home!
“I want to make more memories in a Wigan shirt now, because the last time I was here, I made memories that will last my entire career.”
Maloney, the manager of Wigan, also expressed gratitude to Newcastle for their assistance in completing the trade at the time.
“We’ve signed a really important player,” Maloney declared in the summer. “Although it has taken some time, I sincerely appreciate the efforts made by Newcastle United and the Wigan community to see that through.”
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