With Newcastle United extremely close to safety in the Premier League after another long and hard season, Rafa is reported to be working on his summer recruitment plans.
The club made a mess last summer of trying to sign the manager’s top targets with only Florian Lejeune being acquired, and that was after a couple of months of things dragging on and on.
Rafa will no doubt want to see new faces coming into Newcastle early this summer.
Players who can score goals will be his top priority, and we expect two new strikers to be brought in by the Spanish manager.
Rafa will want to sign loan players Kenedy and goalkeeper Dubravka, but we still have to see Islam Slimani start a game for Newcastle.
Rafa will need to see what impact he makes before he can make any decision on the 29-year-old Algerian striker.
If Slimani looks good in the remaining six games of the season, Benitez could sign him or even take him on loan for next season with an option to buy.
We have been linked with Nice forward Alassane Plea in the last couple of days, and he has been in excellent form for his club this season, scoring 18 goals in 44 games and last term he scored 14 goals in 32 games.
Newcastle have again been linked with Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost, but his transfer fee could be too high for Newcastle this summer – as it was last year.
Liverpool striker and former target Danny Ings is playing again for Liverpool and Rafa may want to sign the 25-year-old former Burnley striker permanently this summer – if he’s available.
Rafa has also linked with his former Liverpool striker Athletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres, who will leave his hometown club this summer.
However, we would be surprised if Rafa signs the 34-year-old since he is well past his best and his wages will be high.
Rafa will also want to bring in a center-back, full-back, winger, and creative midfielder in addition to possibly two new strikers and a goalkeeper (Dubravka).
The manager can sell players like Mitrovic, Mbemba, Colback, and Gayle and use those funds to bring in new players this summer.
Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
Ron Knee
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Comment #1Don’t know, Budge.
Geordie-john
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Comment #2Whomever is the owner of NUFC when the transfer window opens PLEASE make sure Rafa gets his targets on board so , us supporters and the team can have something to cheer about for a change . Relaxed and confident players play better. Stressed and pressured players don’t !
Jail for Ashley
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #3Budge,
Indeed, spooky 😮
lochinvar
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:48 AM
Comment #4Well Ashley – if you can’t stand the heat please get out of the fire and let someone else invest in the clubs future. I’ll accept that while we have had some painful experiences the club’s financial position is perhaps better than most, not least of all the candy stripes down the road.
Guardiola is targeting three players in the summer transfer window, with Manchester City’s spending set to top £600m in two years. (Telegraph)
Having said that..this is obscene money.
In comparison the Sir Bobby Robson FoundationI think was celebrating that it had raised £12million over many years.
How about the Government subsidising the proposed new NHS tax off football transfer fees. All contributions welcome.
Christopher Asprilla
Apr 12, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Comment #5To takeover or not to takeover ? The only question on Geordies lips at the moment . The stillness in the press albeit John Richardson’s supposed source in the Sunday Mirror (which he supposedly fiercely defended later on twitter when berated by a tortured magpie questioning his source) as well as the the latest Chronicle exclusives with Benitez on how he and Penfold have began summer recruitment plans and have discussed targets with Charnley and Nickson points to a Ashley ran Newcastle next season. The pessimism in Newcastle supporters is not there because we’re a unapproachable bunch . No it’s been put there . No ground into us by years of lies and Mugabe like dictatorship from Ashley and at least 50% of supporters believe that it’s all been a farce takeover from day dot.
There is though the arguement that Newcastle will never be more saleable. That in his very words Ashley wants this done behind the scenes like real business deals are. In my opinion if Ashley doesn’t sell in this position he never will. I still believe Staveley has one more bid in her and so many hurdles have been jumped with us securing safety early. Remember the limited timeframe we have here . Who knows that bid may already have been placed but in my opinion there’s a 80% chance of an Ashley ran Newcastle next season . The sticking point is whether he finally realises he has a manager that guarantees progress and whether he’d be happy with running Newcastle on a No profit basis. That’s what Benitez will expect going forward at the least ! Ashley could have his cake and eat it by giving Benitez the power to basically spend whatever we get . No frivolous overspending just basic Benitez runs the show. In my burnt finger opinion Ashley has never seen this before and always loves it when he’s sticking his fingers in the PL cashpot while spending peanuts but complains when he’s blown it. Basically I’m not hopeful but for some reason Benitez keeps giving seriously guarded but definite quotes that he believes he will be here next season . Even arranging pre season with the players. I see an Ashley ran Newcastle next year but with Benitez still in charge . Whether that’s with a bumper new contact or he’s seeing out the final year of this one only Ashley can answer.
ArtyH
Apr 12, 2018 at 12:57 PM
Comment #6Agreed C.A @5, and this will be a tragedy for all concerned as nothing will have been learned and we as supporters will continue to suffer under this dire mismanagement.