It must be difficult for Rafa Benitez and his scouts to know how to plan for January with there being a possibility of a Newcastle takeover by then and lots of money available – maybe as much as £100M.
Rafa has said over the last few weeks that he has a list of five players for each position and we suppose the cost of the players in each position will vary significantly.
The Chronicle is reporting today that Rafa has indeed made two lists depending on whether we are still owned by Mike Ashley at the turn of the year.
If Mike still owns the club, the list Rafa will use will have players who are fairly low-priced and if there is a takeover by then, we will be going after more expensive and hopefully better players.
Rafa Benitez – two different plans for January
It’s clear the manager wants a left back an attacking midfielder (number 10) and in a striker in the January transfer window.
He could also go for a goalkeeper so that young and very promising Freddie Woodman could go out on loan from January to get some first team games.
This is what Rafa has said as reported in the Chronicle:
“The first thing you are looking for is good players. Then you put a list of good players and after you put the prices.”
“So we are looking for good players. Then if we cannot come here, OK, we will come here. But still we have a list.”
“I have told the scouts to just look for good players and after we will decide where we are.”
“It is too early, but we have to have the names.”
“One side or the other side of a potential takeover, we have to have the names. They have to do that.”
“There are players that you cannot sign, even if you have money, you cannot sign these players because they play Champions League, Europa League or whatever with a top side.”
“So you cannot waste time with these players. But the others you have to know all of them and be ready.”
What do you think about this?
Comments welcome.
3 comments so far
Sav
Oct 29, 2017 at 9:51 AM
Comment #1Wonderful to have a manager who knows clearly what he’s doing, has his own men around him and has no ego. Relegation with Rafa is proving to be a momentous event for the future of our club. And a lesson to the Carvers and Pardews that if you are clear thinking and straight talking you will have respect and you don’t have to kowtow, spin and compromise, caught between the owner and the fans.They chose the owner. Rafa chose the club.
Toondog2
Oct 29, 2017 at 10:48 AM
Comment #2Sav,
I agree mate.
The future is bright the future is Rafa
HWTL
kilcline
Oct 29, 2017 at 11:59 AM
Comment #3With a new owner and big backing I would be looking at these players:
Shaw – Rafa would sort him out
Tierney
Draxler – doesn’t start?
Mahrez
Sanchez
Batashuyai
Genuine players who would move us up a level, Sanchez is the only one on that list I don’t think we could get but if we do a city or Chelsea then you never know….