Newcastle have not brought any players into the squad this month yet – and it’s not looking too good for bringing any new players in at the moment, although Rafa and Lee Charnley are still looking and working hard.
Rafa has described to the local press how the transfer market has changed over the last couple of years and when the massive £5B three year TV rights deal for the Premier League started last summer the prices of players have just gone rocketing up.
Rafa Benitez – prices have gone up
The Premier League clubs are willing to pay top dollar to stay in the league and the Championship clubs want to get into the Premier League where the big money is.
So there are some willing buyers at the ridiculous prices.
This is how Rafa described the situation as reported in the Northern Echo:
“For any team you know it is difficult to find the right players for your team, for the right price – at least not the players you need.”
“We were doing our job before, preparing some names and we had some targets.” “Then we tried and teams were telling us, ‘no he’s not for sale’, or, ‘£20M’.”
“You know that is not their value.” “You have to keep working and find the right players, but it’s not easy.”
“What I will say, which I think is very clear: football has changed in the last two or three years.” “It has changed because of the money from TV.”
“The prices are going higher, so when you buy you know clubs will ask for a big price.” “If you sell then sometimes you know you can sell for a big price.”
“Then what does it mean? It means anyone who you talk to want a lot of millions for any players.”
“It’s not that it has changed things because of the way we have done our business or because we are one of the top sides in the division.”
“No, it’s because the prices have gone so high that if you want to sign an average player you have to pay big money.”
“If you want to sell then you know you have to sell for a big price.”
“I don’t think it’s because we are a big club or whatever, you can see small teams have to spend big money for top players also.”
Newcastle are trying to recruit a striker, a playmaker and a winger this month and if we cannot get them in we suppose we have to go with what we have.
But without Jonjo Shelvey in the side we have looked rather ordinary in the last four games with just one win and two defeats.
So we are still hoping for a couple of recruits this month – even if they are only loan deals.
Comments welcome.
4 comments so far
NezzaNUFC
Jan 14, 2017 at 8:01 AM
Comment #1We will dominate Brentford today in all areas but I feel we will lose 1-0 today because of our lack of creative presence in the squad,Colback and Hayden as our duo in midfield will be to defensive and offer no attack or support,our most next creative mid is in fact Anita (shows how much we need another playmaker) Rafa should have thought of this situation especially with Shelvey being a hot head,looking at our squad all positions are filled with good players except from Shelvey role and I think Rafa is looking for a playmaker and nothing else imo.
Dennis Twice
Jan 14, 2017 at 8:03 AM
Comment #2Attack Toon attack, attack!
sing in the corner
Jan 14, 2017 at 8:21 AM
Comment #3Unless this is Rafa employing a fantastic poker face it’s becoming clearer that we will in all likelihood not be signing any 1st team ready players until at least the summer now.
We have to suck it up, knuckle down and deal with it now.
One nil to us this afternoon after another workman-like nervy game…
Spotlight Kid
Jan 14, 2017 at 8:22 AM
Comment #4I don’t get why we weren’t prepared for Shelvey’s absence (Rafa had adequate warning) and working on a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 system to compensate. Only recently, before the Birmingham game, did it appear this was happening in training – but by now it’s too late and I fear dropped points again today.
Problem is, if Shelvey picks up an injury do we go on another run of poor form for lack of plan B? In Rafa I remain to be convinced.