Newcastle United are ready to begin their squad clearout in earnest this week.

The News of the World says Newcastle bosses will appoint super agents First Artists this week to begin a sale of the mega-earners who got the club relegated.

The Toon have 15 players on more than £50,000 a week and the agency has been told to offload as many as possible.

First on the hitlist to go will be Obafemi Martins, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton. Newcastle are hopeful they can claw back £20m by releasing those five.