Rafa Benitez wants to strengthen the side in January and if he is allowed to do that with say three or four good players coming in he may be a lot more relaxed about staying at Newcastle.
He will be guaranteed a better side next season even if the summer transfer window is not a good one.
It’s safer to get the players in that he wants in January when he can test owner Mike Ashley.
Last summer’s transfer window is starting to look a lot better with the excellent form of Ki, Schar, and Rondon in the previous two games – both wins.
And Federico Fernandez had yet another outstanding game at the back for us yesterday – what a buy for just £6M and he doesn’t get enough credit for how good he’s been for us this season.
And of course, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is already one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Rondon is on loan but Dubravka (£4M), Ki (free agent), Fernandez (£6M) and Schar £3M) costing a total of only £13M.
A winger, fullback and a striker are the top targets for January and maybe a creative midfielder.
And former target and French striker Sebastien Haller could be available for around £25M in January.
Sebastien Haller – Eintracht Frankfurt striker
If Mike Ashley has any sense and wants to keep Rafa at Newcastle he should help his manager to get Haller; Rondon and Haller up front would be awesome.
And with so many good center-backs at the club, we may see Rafa play three at the back and a 3-5-2 formation in some of our games.
Florian Lejeune looks like he may be back very late this year and there will be some massive competition for the center-back spots.
We’re not sure Jamaal Lascelles will be one of the best two center-backs available when Lejeune, Schar, and Fernandez are all available.
But intense competition for places is exactly what Rafa wants and why the manager is hoping to bring new players in during the January transfer window to increase it even further.
New players in January will help us this season and ensure at the same time that we have an improved squad for next season.
Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
cyprus
Nov 11, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Comment #1“I can’t say what exactly happened – I just went with my nose to somebody’s head but the nose is broken, I think.” Schar
Sorry to go back in time, again, maybe jib will help place this line:
Morecambe and Wise…
Eric. Describing a fight: “So I cleverly blocked it (the punch) with my face…”
Mindshaft
Nov 11, 2018 at 5:36 PM
Comment #2Ciaran Clarke must be thinking he’s never going to get game time when the rest are fit )
Good game by Rondon yesterday but as they say one swallow doesn’t make a summer, need to see the same on a consistent basis
Mister Tuff
Nov 11, 2018 at 5:38 PM
Comment #3Jib – following on from your comments yesterday are you aware of the upcoming rugby international this coming Saturday at Twickenham.
I speak of course of the England v Japan match.
In view of what you said yesterday and this match being less than a week after Remembrance Day – should this game be called off.
Those Japans from China did some awful things in WW2.
kc2012
Nov 11, 2018 at 5:48 PM
Comment #4Just watched the highlights again from Yesterday….That chip ball from Diame to Yedlin for the first goal was so underrated. Cracking ball. I Hope the big man can find his form again from the 2nd half of last season
Jib
Nov 11, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #5Time marches on Mr Tuff
As a kid I attended (unwillingly)
Far East Veterans Association functions
The thought of a Japanese car plant on the Wear
would have had them howling in fury.
Time is a great healer .
Cyprus I think I’ve answered your query on the previous page
Mindshaft
Nov 11, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Comment #6It’s probably just as well time marches on, We have a torrid past when it comes to atrocities ( including during the Mau Mau Uprising (1951-1960) where members of the Kikuyu tribe were detained in camps, since described as “Britain’s gulags” or concentration camps, where they allege they were systematically tortured and suffered serious sexual assault, it’s believed up to 100,000 could have died at the hands of the British.
Maybe we could start a mini atrocity with only Ashley as the victim though ))
Anyway, lets keep this to football