Rafa is still hoping to sign additional players before the transfer window slams shut in 13 days time on August 9th.
Rafa still wants West Brom striker Salomon Rondon brought in but the only deal pending at the moment is a swap for Dwight Gayle so it would be one striker out and one in for Newcastle.
And why would Dwight want to take another step down to the Championship when he is happy on Tyneside and becoming a better all-around player under Rafa’s guidance?
If we can get Rondon and Muto in and keep Gayle and sell Mitrovic – that would be OK as far as the strikers are concerned.
Salomon Rondon – Rafa Benitez still want this striker
This is what Rafa has said this week about deals:
“We are working and trying to do something.” “I think we will do something – and we have to do something.”
There’s still time to bring players in, and we will have five new players this summer if we sign Yoshinori Muto in the next few days.
Newcastle must bring in at least one full-back since we have released Massadio Haidara and Jesus Gamez, so we don’t have much cover for Yedlin and Dummett.
And we really missed Paul Dummett last season when he was injured, and our revival coincided with Paul coming back into the side.
It would be good if we could get two full-backs in during the next couple of weeks.
We also need a playmaker who can play in the number 10 position and challenge Ayoze Perez.
That would also give us some additional goalscoring prowess in the side.
So with four good players in right now – Dubravka, Kenedy, Sung-yueng, and Schar – Muto and three or four more players would make it into a decent enough transfer window.
We need a playmaker, striker and a couple of full-backs.
That’s with very little help financially once again from Mike Ashley.
Why does he keep getting in Rafa’s way as the manager tries to build a top side at Newcastle?
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:19 PM
Comment #1Why does our budget now allow Rondon , Joselu , Gayle and Motu?
2 of each position not ideal in terms of personnel but still better than what we had for squad depth
magscar
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #2Nicky
Couple of threads back- i don’t think you are a capitalist lackey dog – I was simply making fun of Lesh’s agenda both NUFC and political and what used to be a term of back in 60/70’s
🙂
Sorry may be an emoji might have helped what was only meant as a support of you and your right to your own view and against the labelling of such views.
I haven’t a clue about you own leanings (NUFC is why I am here) but I do about Lesh’s as he wears them on his sleeve even on here – entirely up to him of course.
CJ
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:27 PM
Comment #3I have a theory that Ashley really does want to sell the club and that the funds received by finishing 10th will go towards paying off his interest free loan. by doing this his requested price of £400m can be significantly reduced and will attract new owners. If this theory is correct then I think Ashley will be out by the end of the year.
Lindisfarne
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:30 PM
Comment #4Next Mike Williamson
Please see my response on previous post
lesh
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Comment #5Magscar
Is honesty such a bad thing? At least you think (wrongly as it happens) you know where I stand and I’ll say it again, you couldn’t be more wrong by seemingly falling into the Daily Heil’s ways.
And
Nicky the ball tosser (from earlier)
But it’s clear that Rafa can’t live with Ashley and one thing’s near certain, Ashley’s not going to change. You’re not thick – what stops you seeing that?
TNMW
If we do have a good season, Ashley will see it as job done and let Rafa go next summer.
If we don’t, he may well pay Rafa off at Christmas and recruit somebody like Moyes and shower him with cash for trabsfers.
Rafa’s proving to be a thorn in Ashley’s side, his ambitions go far beyond Ashley’s.
ArtyH
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:36 PM
Comment #6With the new players arriving if Mitro is not sold, I wonder if he could be used in any capacity?
catchy in norway
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Comment #7PAY a good coach top wages, = get more out of cheaper players
Pay a crap coach poor wages = get relegated with more expensive players
I think Ashley knows this and is in full affect.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Comment #8Even if Rafa does leave any new manager no matter who it might be is going to be fielding teams with the intention of only avoiding relegation.
I would seriously doubt if Ashley is that stupid to demand it.
If we were that fluckey and seemed to be challenging for a top four spot would he sack that manager and bring back Carver to negate this happening.
Who really knows his thinking but past experience would suggest that that could happen, in answer to my own question.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Comment #9Ashley out!
Jail for Ashley
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Comment #10catchy,
The glaringly obvious flaw in that methodology is that a good coach capable of attracting top wages wants more than just to tread water for a greedy billionaire and will be off at the first sign of a club that suits his ambition.
Jib
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:45 PM
Comment #11Lee Charnley Bunga Party
I think Rafa’s ideal is 3 players for each position
With a permitted squad of 25 players he’ll have to
draft in 8 under 21s
So far he’s tried
Sean Longstaff
Josef Yarney
Callum Roberts
Victor Fernandez
Freddie Woodman
he’s let Armstrong go
other candidates are:-
Mo Sangare
Liam Gibson
Elias Sorensen
Kelland Watts
Luke Charman
Dan Barlaser
and a few others
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:46 PM
Comment #12Not the interest free loan turkey again, it’s his club and all of the money is his, he owes himself nothing.
Any cash he puts in is an investment to improve his business but unfortunately he doesn’t seem to see NUFC as an investment area, any way that’s how I see it.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:46 PM
Comment #13Catchy, that’s a good post, and I imagine very much at the heart of Rafa’s battle with the owner. But he must also know that Rafa won’t have it, it won’t stop him trying it on, for whatever he can get away with, but he will ultimately need to sufficiently back him or he’ll walk away. That seems quite clear.
magscar
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:53 PM
Comment #14Lesh
Honesty is good
I have no problem with your political leanings but from memory of your posts you lean towards Ancient so I assume what they may be
If wrong sorry but no insult intended
Anyway on bus (heading for some beers mates) as as posting is an ordeal 🙁
I will leave at that
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:59 PM
Comment #15Mmm, yes an ordeal. Apologies. I’ll also take my leave.