The Chronicle are reporting today that Rafa Benitez wants to add four new players to his squad before 9th August – deadline day – when the summer transfer windows slams shut.
We had reported this morning that Rafa needs a left-back, and striker as well as a center-back to cover for the injured Florian Lejeune.
In addition to that Rafa is still looking for a new number 10.
If we can get four new players in we already have five players signed – Martin Dubravka, Robert Kenedy (loan), Ki Sung-yueng and Fabian Scar – and would be nine players signed this summer.
Rafa Benitez – frustrated – just like last summer
There are still some players to sell or send out on loan such as Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons, Achraf Lazaar, Adam Armstrong and possibly Isaac Hayden if we can get a replacement in for the central midfielder.
The Chronicle are reporting that Rafa has made his feeling known to Managing Director Lee Charnley and has handed him a list of players he wants signed in the nine days remaining of the transfer window.
Rafa is frustrated at the moment, but if we can get in four players he wants and they include players like young Brazilian Thiago Maia, Swansea center-back Federico Fernandez and Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, then things could still be looking up on Tyneside.
However, the bad news is the Chronicle are saying the report from France today that we are close to signing Maia on loan for next season is not accurate.
That’s a pity.
If the Newcastle Board fails to bring in the new players Rafa wants, then we can probably wave goodbye to Rafa next summer.
That’s when his three-year contract is up, and he will become a free agent with multiple clubs fighting it out for his services.
That would also be a tragedy for Newcastle United FC.
Comments welcome.
266 comments so far
kimbo
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:30 PM
Comment #1So that is 2 from Whitley Bay 2 from Blyth Spartans, but the wages may be too high.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #2I can see RAFA walking
and guess who will be on the phone John Carver – one minute past eleven – I’ll have the job I’m a great manager please please
Geordie-john
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:41 PM
Comment #3The Greedy Fatman has to go ! He’s making us the laughing stock.
Geordie-john
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Comment #4HERE WE GO AGAIN ! How can this be ? Saying that this player at approx. £8M is too expensive for NUFC ? Now with the sale of Mitro gone through as well as others that have gone we are STILL making a profit on transfers alone AGAIN ! Probably around £10M profit in this window alone ! AND What about the £125M + for 10th position and TV rights etc etc Where the FCUK has that gone ? For those that are mathematically challenged or awkward pickers then look back at EVERY transfer window while Greedy boy has been at the helm and I bet almost everyone has been profit . He is ripping us off BIG STYLE !
EVERYONE and I mean everyone needs to take a stand against this tosser and stop this from happening anymore ! I’ve done what I thought was appropriate and stopped buying season tickets. Granted some might say it’s wrong but why give your hard earned cash to someone that’s taking the piss out of you ? I’ve watched Newcastle for 40 + years and have had season ticket for nearly 30 years. It’s destroyed me not seeing the lads playing live and enjoying the banter with those around me both good and not so good but this bloke has to be stopped and the only way to do this is hit him in the pocket. Don’t go to his shops. Hold off on buying season tickets Don’t give him any money at all if you can avoid it. Get together and make a stand every game in front of the TV cameras. You don’t have top be loud or violent, Big banners would do. He will disappear. Rangers done it so why can’t we ? He is a disease that will eventually kill NUFC or damage it beyond repair.
Geordie-john
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #5I think he is trying his best to force Rafa into walking away.
NezzaNUFC
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:47 PM
Comment #6Where is Rafa demanding 4 players?
What from the chronicle!?
They speak more rubbish than our own government.
We are on the verge of signing 2 strikers Muto and Rondon and we already have Gayle and Joselu, so Rafa is not looking for another striker.
FL got a serouse injury which is unfortunate but Rafa only wants Chancel replacement in which Schar was bought in leaving us with Lascelles, Clark and Schar so whether Rafa is going to bring in another CB or go into the youths.
We do though need a LB and that Arg lad from Ajax would be ideal.
So in terms we only need a LB, maybe a number 10 (challenge Perez) and maybe a CB (if Rafa doesn’t go into the youths)
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:48 PM
Comment #7‘Benitez immediately flagged up that a new centre-back was needed following the injury to Florian Lejeune while his wish-list also contained left-back targets – including Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico – and both a striker and a new number 10.
‘However, Benitez has been told he must continue to cut his cloth accordingly and that only a limited spending pot is available during the rest of the window.’
This from the chronicle so basically no Mitrovic money then? Rafa should walk now and just let all the fans know the exact truth of what a crook we have maybe then people will think about some action
Lovem or Hatem
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #8If the chonicle was privy to the inside conversation between Rafa and the board – then they should be knowing when signings are going to be made and who they are
Nostradamus the Geordie
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #9Ed to quick on the threads. Just woke up 6am here, from the previous thread. Sorry, how can we be priced out of a move for Nicolas Tagliafico? 8 Million for an Argentine international, 8 Mill for an international player now days isn’t something you ever hear of, this is nuts that the idiots running the club cannot see 8 Mill as a bargain add this to Meyer talking to Palace for a free agent is making me wonder if we actually have real people running the club or the cast of the muppets. After heavy forensic research, I can without a shadow of doubt let the fans know that I have found proof it’s the muppets. Charney can be clearly seen in this video with Mike Ashley. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVw0i5Rd_Is
NezzaNUFC
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:55 PM
Comment #10Mitrovich sale will probably be in installements, 4 million over 5 years, leaving Rafa with 4 million towards the transfer funds.
FCB did state all the money generated by the club will go to Rafa so 4 mill is what he will get!
Not looking good for us and Rafa.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:59 PM
Comment #11Just walk away Rafa. It’s only delaying the inevitable by staying on. What’s the point in staying up for one extra year with no hope moving forward after that?
I’d much rather go down, force Ashley to either lose a fortune or sell up. Either way it is more satisfying than treading water without even thinly veiling the complete lack of ambition or attempt at competing.
Pottsclock
Jul 31, 2018 at 2:59 PM
Comment #12The Chronical is talking rubbish. They themselves today shared story on Maia coming to us earlier today and then another recently saying that we wasn’t and the other report was not true.
DubaiMicky
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #13What kind of annoys me but also makes me love our club, is that if Rafa doesn’t extend his contract and the fat twat is still the owner, we’ll still sell a shed load of season tickets, we’ll still buy the shirts and we’ll still support the team.
Sadly (and happily) The Toon are by far and away the best supported team in the land.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:15 PM
Comment #14Once again we get dragged into newspaper talk, I do it 100% and I know its hard to ignore but some things seem true. The issue, 10 stories one is true, two possibly and seven B/S. Now, if the Rafa story is true then I honestly would say, Rafa the fans would not blame you if you left after the transfer window, we know who will be to blame. The issue is he will not because he is an honest man and will see out his contract. So here’s what going to happen, Rafa does not get the players he needs, Ashley does an interview on Sky Sports saying he offered Rafa money for transfers if he signed a contract extension. I know dumb thinking, roll on January transfer window where depending on where we are in the league or maybe it does not matter, Ashley will give Rafa what he wants o the fans back off, Ashley will tell Rafa you get 60 Million every summer transfer window and 20 Million as a back up in January if we have key players out injured and need cover. Rafa signs and away we go,
Nostradamus the Geordie
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:16 PM
Comment #15away we go, saving Mike 100 Million from the previous year. That’s how he operates simple as that.
Munster Mag
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:21 PM
Comment #16Two years time we might be behind Sunderland in the championship. Sad thought guys.
hibbit
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:24 PM
Comment #17DubaiMicky
there will be one hell of a wobble in the ground fact it will be an earthquake and this time the roof might just come in on top of Ashley
folk will only take so much even geordies Rafa could just be the straw that broke the camel’s back. and then the shit will really hit the fan
Dragon64
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:24 PM
Comment #18So if he doesn’t get the four players is he gone ??? Probably
Rotonda heights
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:24 PM
Comment #19Rafa has done what no previous manager ever had the cojones to do and that is to call Ashley out and seriously expose him.
Ash’s cred, not that he had any, is getting further slammed and examined more and more each day. Senor Benitez is fast becoming more than a minor irritant to the fat man now.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:25 PM
Comment #20Just got on the bus, something I don’t often do. Whilst waiting a family came to the stop, the dad had a toon top on and his 4 kids had Citeh tops on.
I’ve wondered on many occasion if the toon are losing the next generation of fans.
When I was a kid no sky etc, it’s easier now I suppose to follow another team, when your home town club shows no ambition it must be a easy choice for a bairn.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:28 PM
Comment #21Dubai
Funny situation, you have people saying Ashley loves loyalty and rewards it.
There’s no fans more loyal than the Geordie faithful, where’s their reward??
Pottsclock
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:29 PM
Comment #22James Perch is available apparently
Mister Tuff
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Comment #23op – probably the youngsters only know about the nationally famous football stars and follow them. We do not have any stars unfortunately. And for the foreseeable future won’t have any.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:32 PM
Comment #24Tuff
I’d agree, my 8yr old nephew goes regular to the toon matches, all he talks about is Kane Ali etc.
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:33 PM
Comment #25Newcastle v Tottenham tickets appear to be finally on sale even though the NUFC ticketing website is saying you can now buy tickets, when you try to access them the site goes down.
The site claims the tickets went on sale at 10am this morning but the it was still only showing the Augsburg game as available.
Tottenham had put away tickets for the Newcastle match on sale 13 days ago but bizarrely nothing from Newcastle until now.
Newcastle United haven’t as yet announced (unless you happened to go and look on the ticket site) that the Newcastle v Spurs tickets are on sale, with nothing reported on the main NUFC channels.
Just worry that the Ticket Office is now owned by House of Fraser and that the staff are being held prisoner until they sign new zero hours contacts.
If Ashley continues to run the club like this SJP will be like the Bastille and the people will demand freedom. Where is the Scarlet Pimpernel when you need him or these days her.
Pottsclock
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:39 PM
Comment #26The other nonsense today is that we are interested in Leighton Baines with some reports saying that we’re too tight to pay his wages.
He’s 33 and has lost most of what he had. His wages are £70k per week at Everton who are in the process of buying his replacement in the knowledge that he has lost it but they want to dump him on some mugs for the remainder of his contract to June 2019 and hence get someone else to pay the £3m wages. He’d sit on our bench for most if not all of the time. Yes we need coverage in that position, but not from Baines.
I’d be more disappointed if we went for him than if we didn’t.
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:41 PM
Comment #27Pottsclock@22
We’re even too late on bringing James Perch home, looks like he’s signed for the Irons.
Now where’s Stephen Taylor ? He was off to somewhere exotic or was it remote but either way maybe he’s worth a bet to cover for Lejeune.
Oldgit1
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #28@ lochinvar Steven Taylor is now playing in Australia
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 31, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #29On about season tickets
I have not received mine yet and when I bought my sons I was not allowed student discount
I have to wait until he goes back to Uni and get a letter wrote on Uni letterhead paper saying he is attending and signed by his tutor which I have to show at the ticket office to get the student discount.
RAFA goes before the first game should make a protest at half time by walking onto the pitch from all four sides and sitting on the pitch.
Most likely get points deducted but would make a show in front of the World
Jib
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:01 PM
Comment #30New Zealand
JohnJ
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:03 PM
Comment #31I understood from Steven Taylor that’s he’s in New Zealand!
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:05 PM
Comment #32Is there no end to Ashley’s generosity and friendship.
From the Times:
Rangers faces a legal bill of £500,000 after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Sports Direct over the right to sell replica kit. Sports Direct, owned by Mike Ashley argued that it should have been given the opportunity to match “some or all” of an offer from a rival. Rangers has been ordered to pay most of Sports Direct’s legal fees.
The judge was told that Sports Direct had run up legal costs of £350,000 and Rangers £185,000 during the dispute. Mr Justice Phillips said that Rangers should pick up most of Sports Direct’s legal bills as well as paying its own fees, adding that the retailer was “entitled to the costs”.
Fans had become angry after learning that the club got about 7p of every £1 spent on Rangers products and had staged a merchandise boycott.
He said fans thought Mr Ashley pocketed too much of their money and said there was a widespread view that no “self-respecting” Rangers’ supporter wore a replica shirt.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:10 PM
Comment #33Repost from several stops ago.
Just to put a contra argument, I would think every manager in the EPL are saying they want more players in and expressing a degree of dissatisfaction at the lack of them..
I suspect that if Rafa gets another couple of players in he”ll be very happy with the window.
Think he might be looking to use some of the youngsters a bit more as well to cover any deficiencies.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:13 PM
Comment #34Reports coming out of France claim Thiago Maia is a target for Newcastle, but the club is looking elsewhere for reinforcements. #nufc
YCMIU!
Ashley out!!
Oldgit1
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:20 PM
Comment #35@ Jib. You sir are correct. can I put it down to auto correct error. Can’t have the doctors thinking I may have dementia as it will effect my car insurance etc.
Oldgit1
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:25 PM
Comment #36Perez of Arsenal is now being considered for €7m. Wouldn’t mind having him over Rondom
GeordieTwo
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:29 PM
Comment #37So the idea is to send Gayle plus 3M pounds to West Brom for Rondon? I’m lukewarm to this but it’s hugely better than 16M pounds cash for him. We seem to take one step forward and one step back. We get Schar but Lejeune is out for months. At least we have Muto up front now. More needs to be done but I have little faith in the hierarchy if you want to call it that. Ashley pulling the strings and Chutney saying we can’t afford whoever Rafa wants.
Jib
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:30 PM
Comment #38Oldgit
Aussies – Kiwis
Hardly any difference
Jail for Ashley
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:33 PM
Comment #39No fan of the repost but seriously missed the bus
I bet Rafa is seriously peeved about allowing himself to be duped in to not only saving the fat man’s bacon but making him a shed load of money at the same time.
GeordieTwo
Jul 31, 2018 at 4:34 PM
Comment #40If Muto catches fire we might be ok this season. Otherwise it’s a huge struggle again. I’m hoping for more from Kenedy and Perez as well. I still think we will be quite weak with the available back four. We need to move Clark out and get another good’un. An AMF is a must as well. The left back thing looks to me as if it won’t happen (Tagliafuco). He’s too expensive hahahaha! Hilarious. If only other clubs would give their players away. Right Chutney? That’s definitely what they should do.