There’s a Mirror report out today that is both short and explosive.
It says that Newcastle will not pursue a deal to bring Andros Townsend back to Newcastle and that we have also had a £12M bid for Stoke City striker Joselu tuned down.
Rafa is said to be furious at the state of affairs.
It’s a surprise that Stoke would quickly turn down Newcastle’s second offer for Joselu and £12M seems a decent deal for the Potters given he was signed for less than half that from Hannover two years ago.
Joselu was signed for £5.75M, and he hasn’t exactly had a fantastic time of things at Stoke City, so it seems that £12M is a good offer from the Magpies.
Stoke City striker Joselu
The question now is whether Newcastle will go back in with an increased offer, but Joselu’s almost as expensive as our top striker target – Lucas Perez of Arsenal – who is available for £13.4M.
In fact, Perez could turn out to be cheaper than Joselu.
The common sense thing to do for Newcastle now would be to bid £12M for Lucas Perez (maybe even less) and see what the response we get from Arsene Wenger – that’s very nearly the fee the Gunners are asking for Perez.
And Perez showed last season he can play very well in the Premier League when he gets a chance.
The 28-year-old Spaniard scored 7 goals and had 5 assists in 21 games for Arsenal in all competitions.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Note: If you want to receive the articles every day in future, please sign up to receive them here and help me keep the site going without the support of NewsNow.
You can follow us on Facebook here – on Google+ here – and on Twitter here and also go directly to the site here.
190 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #81Bobby
That’s probably the part that’s frustrating Rafa the most mate. Having to get rid of the deadwood, cos there is some shite in there that we can’t give away.
magspuggy
Aug 6, 2017 at 10:56 AM
Comment #82Getting rid of the deedwòod cant be as hard as we think. A raft on the tyne at high tide would sort them oot. We could also send them to play at gatesheed if they dont find a new club.
Jokes aside i think we will end up paying a % of the wages for some players just to have them off the books.
Its a problem with buying low and selling high but i think we are still in profit from it so should just take the hit and move on.
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2017 at 10:57 AM
Comment #83Shirebrook, agreed there matey. This is what he took on though, he knew the problems. Don’t forget, whilst Rafa was having everything put into that contract, Ashley probably had a few additions to cover himself as well. He’s no mug.
Rafa has his project which is running the club without losing money, but bringing success. That means the good, the bad and the ugly. You can’t pay players 30-40k a week for training and still make money. We gotta trust him to do his best.
This season might be tough, but after that he’ll go from strength to strength.
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Comment #84Rafa Benitez:
“Hopefully we are close to making signings but I don’t know – we will have to wait and see.
“We (Rafa and club hierarchy) are in contact all the time – we still have time.
“We have too many players now, so not all of these players can have a future at the club.
“We have too many now and we need 25 players.
“I I don’t know about those leaving, because it depends on other clubs, but we continue to monitor every situation.”
¶ Benitez didn’t state he must get rid of player(s) before he can sign somebody.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 10:59 AM
Comment #85magspuggy…it does seem very problematic to offload players like Krul, Hairspray, Saivet, Rivi, Lazaar and even Hanley!
…if it wasn’t problematic they would be gone by now, because signing new players seems to rely on us moving players on first!
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Comment #86I would expect at least 1 player to be signed, regardless of any leave or not.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #87AncientC…didn’t he? Between the lines I think he did…or at least it could have an impact on who he can sign!
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #88Toontaff
Give it a rest with the rich seat bollocks pal.
I definitely ain’t rich or eat prawn salads as you suggest.
We all choose to sit where we want in the ground mate
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:02 AM
Comment #89Mags, I said last week that we might have to pay part their wages just to get rid, but he won’t go down that line until he knows he’s stuck with them. He’ll try to get rid first and that will be a last resort. Can’t see any other way though.
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #90jesper, he cleary didn’t state ‘we must sell players before we can sign any.’ Why would he sell sanction Daryl Murphy’s sale if a replacement wasn’t coming in?
magscar
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #91Ancientc
May not be explicit but the logic is clear there are only so many 1st team shirts and it is not only funds and wages that becomes a problem but the effect of unwanted players in the group. Rafa has them training with U23 not as a punishment but for practical reasons. He must concentrate his efforts on coaching and organising a team around only those who are available to play. Loans are becoming more and more the likely but not preferable option to unload for next season 🙁
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #92Bobby/Mags
Agree with you on paying % of wages in order to shed the deadwood. May be a last resort but may be the only way in the end
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:07 AM
Comment #93Ancient, he did in another statement mate. I doubt he just repeats himself, but he definitely said no more in until some go out previously..
Like yourself though, I think we’ll bring in one or two more before the window shuts, even if it means paying off some contracts.
He said selling wasn’t only about raising funds though, he said it was more about squad numbers, so I assume money is still available.
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:08 AM
Comment #94Morning Jazzy,
Hope your well mate. You all geared up for next Sunday pal?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:08 AM
Comment #95AncientC…there’s a course and a reaction to everything mate…if players leaving would have and impact on our signings then we wouldn’t have this conversion!
…we would have the players needed!
Money need to be freed up and the numbers need to come down – like Rafa says ” We have too many players now, so not all of these players can have a future at the club”
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:09 AM
Comment #96“I I don’t know about those leaving, because it depends on other clubs, but we continue to monitor every situation.”
“Hopefully we are close to making signings but I don’t know – we will have to wait and see.”
…cause and reaction!
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:10 AM
Comment #97magscar, the club doesn’t have an excessively high wage bill – wages couldn’t be a problem. The players that the club needs to shift out are not getting first squad places, regardless of if they stay or not… proven, as you alluded to, by training with the u23s.
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Comment #98Shirebrook
Morning mate.
To be blunt I can’t F@ckin wait mate. I’m already struggling with my sleep pattern lol, In anticipation of next Sunday.
Sweaty palms at the ready haha.. buzzing mate.. Buzzing.
Must admit I’m a little worried that we lack that Quality signing or to, But hoping we’ll be fine
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Comment #99jesper “We have too many players now, so not all of these players can have a future at the club” means exactly what it states. The club has too many players and will be looking to move them on. Nothing is mentioned about surplus players stopping a new player coming in.
The amount of players that the club can/cannot shift will have an effect on the budget, but it’s not going to change the fact that a replacement will come in for Daryl Murphy.
hellodjo
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Comment #100I find it hard to believe this report, very sceptical of everything that’s being said no way we’d bid £12 mil for him doesn’t add up
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Comment #101jesper, you placed the below paragraphs in a different order to which they were spoken. Put them back in order, see if you get the result of “cause and reaction.” I have to say, that is very disingenuous of you.
“I I don’t know about those leaving, because it depends on other clubs, but we continue to monitor every situation.”
“Hopefully we are close to making signings but I don’t know – we will have to wait and see.”
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Comment #102Jazzyp…are you going up to St. James Park on Sunday?
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #103““Hopefully we are close to making signings but I don’t know – we will have to wait and see.”
Is the first sentence spoken by Benitez.
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #104Ancient, you’re basing that on one statement matey. Previously he distinctly said that until we move players out etc. He didn’t say it in that statement you refer to, but he did previously. Honest! 🙂
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Comment #105Ancient…I don’t think it matters in which order Rafa spoke them mate…it’s most likely not a transcript of what was said chronologically anyway 🙂
…I am not saying I am completely right, but from my perspective it seems to hold some elements of truth!
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Comment #106Jazzy
I’m same mate l. I can’t fcuking wait!
Yeah we could do with a couple more signings (mainly ST and LB) but I think we will be ok. Today’s game could give us insight as to what the starting 11 could be against Spurs.
Not phased by the Bullshit doing the rounds in the chip wrappers either.
12 m for the lad at stoke Joselu. No way!
Jib
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:20 AM
Comment #107Hail wor Ashley
They do it to Newcastle becasue for some reason we seem to have a disproportionate amount of credulous neurotics.
Ha ha ha
The vast majority of them post on here !
😎
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:20 AM
Comment #108Jesper
Good morning my friend.
Yeah mate I’ll be making my annual 300 mile round trip up the A1 to take our seats in the ground.
To be honest I feel totally different to how I did last year. No disrespect to the Championships but I felt we didn’t belong.
Where as now I feel we are back where we belong
AncientC
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #109Bobbybee, do you have a quote? I do not recall Benitez saying the club cannot sign anybody until the club shifts some out. It is like he stated: He is hopeful that the club is close to making more signings – why would he be hopeful if he knows the club cannot sign anybody without departures first.
I wonder if Benitez knew he couldn’t replace Daryl Murphy prior to selling him… without further sales. If true.
Ron Knee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #110Rafa Benitez speaking after beating Bradford 4-0:
“Every manager wants to sign more players and that is especially important when you are promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.
“It’s not the same when you are already in the Premier League and you need three or four maximum – when you are changing division it is more difficult and you have to bring more players.
“But we have a problem – which is obvious, we already have too many players.
“We have to move players out if we want to move players in.
“That is something we have to manage between now and the end of the window.”
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Comment #111Shirebrook
Agree on The stoke kid, But really know much about Perez from Arsenal either.
My worry is if Gayle’s hamstring goes then where are the goals gonna come from.
Same if we lose Shelvey to
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:25 AM
Comment #112Dont
magspuggy
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:25 AM
Comment #113We dont have to sell to buy but both issues need to be sorted.
We cant have a half dozen players getting wages if they have no future here not many clubs could.
We will buy when the deals right for us and we will deal with the others asap even if they go on a free with us paying a % but i doubt there is a one off one on policy.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:26 AM
Comment #114Jazzyp…that’s a bloody long drive going up from Mansfield…at least your closer to the away games (mostly :))
…going down to the likes of SOTON, Brighton and Bournemouth won’t be fun…lol
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #115*your’re
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:28 AM
Comment #116Ancient, Ron to the rescue. 🙂 I don’t but Ron has. Cheers Ron.
I don’t understand players who would rather sit on their arse than play elsewhere for slightly less money. Not like they’re on minimum wages after all. I get it financially, but your playing career is so short I know I would rather earn a damn good wage and play, than steal a wage not playing. I’m sure most would though on here, not being in that situation.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #117Morning Ron…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #118…or good afternoon 😀
Ron Knee
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #119Good afternoon (just!), jesper.
magscar
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:31 AM
Comment #120Ancientc
Wages are a problem in the sense it is “dead money” if the players are here and not playing. In our situation we don’t just have to spend but spend smart and every penny has to be made to work for us.
In Ashley’s first season Alladyce was given a pretty free hand that summer and we got Barton, Beye, Enrique, Smith, Rozehnal, Geremi, Cacapa, ,Viduka and Faye – not a good window at all in hindsight and some stuck with us on good wages beyond their welcome (their prerogative of course).
Ashley no doubt recalls that reality and has not trusted his managers since then until Rafa has renewed his confidence somewhat.
His mistakes but we are where we are and move forward accordingly