Newcastle United management are ready to sell senior players in the New Year.

The Mirror says United boss Steve Bruce has dangled the prospect of new deals in front of his first choice players recently and will hope that will lift performances rather than create any uncertainty.

Owner Mike Ashley and MD Lee Charnley believe there is a peak time to sell players before they lose value, and Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie, a top performer in the last two seasons, would raise big bucks.

Newcastle spent big this summer and club sources insist survival in the top flight means that can be repeated with up to £50m plus player sale cash funding a rebuild.