Christmas is here, so there are 7 days to go until the January transfer window opens next Monday.
But we don’t expect any quick deals to be made by Newcastle with Rafa still not knowing precisely the funds he will be given to spend next month.
That’s the latest news in any case.
We need to bring in a left back, two strikers and add some toughness and some creativity in central midfield.
So given that, here are four players (and a possible fifth) who could really improve the Newcastle side.
1) Islam Slimani – Leicester
This striker has not done well at Leicester but the Algerian has class and Rafa can get the best out of him.
Slimani will be an improvement on what we have at the moment.
The 27-year-old could come in on loan with an option to buy in the summer.
We are supposed to be the favorites to sign him next month.
2) Kenedy – Chelsea
We may have to wait again for the 21-year-old left-sided player who was impressive when he played left-back for Chelsea when Guus Hiddink was the manager in the first half of last year.
We almost got him in late August on loan but Antonio Conte couldn’t get a replacement in and the deal was off.
He also has speed and skill and could help in the fast breakaways that Rafa is working on in training and paid off with two goals at West Ham.
3) Danny Ings – Liverpool
Newcastle have been after this lad for a long time, and the latest news is that Rafa has been talking to Liverpool officials about bringing Ings to Newcastle.
It will probably be on loan, but there were stories Rafa was willing to buy him if he showed he was fully fit from his two ACL knee injuries of the last two years.
Maybe bring him in on loan with an option to buy in the summer?
4) Andreas Samaris – Benfica
We need some strengthening in central midfield even though Henri Saivet and Mo Diame played well on Saturday in the 3-2 win at West Ham.
Rafa wanted Andreas Samaris in the summer, and it seems Benfica could lower their price from £17M so Rafa could buy him next month.
He could again maybe bring him in on loan next month with an option to buy.
But if Rafa does get some substantial funds next month he will want to buy some players on a permanent as he wants the team a lot stronger for next season.
Finally, with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshire starting to look good for Arsenal and likely becoming a free agent in the summer, maybe we can make an audacious move and take him on loan next month and try to buy him in the summer if he does well.
It’s worth a try because Jack can provide the class and creativity we need in midfield, and he needs playing time if he is to make the England squad for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
That’s it.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Comment #1Christmas Day and my kids are still in bed 🙄
Jib
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:01 AM
Comment #2Rafa is a fox
(zorro in Spanish)
He know precisely what is
available and the targets will
have been spoken to already.
When the public see a pic of
a new signing holding the
black and white shirt,first contact
will have been made weeks
(possibly months) before.
jazzyp
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:02 AM
Comment #3Morning all.
Hope Santa has been kind and Happy Christmas to all
ShirebrookToon
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Comment #4Jib
Rafa is very good a playing the media.
He’s got players lined up ready imo
They’ll be queuing outside Benton on the 1st Jan 🙂
blew
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Comment #5Ings is cropping up regularly, for a player who if fit scores every 3.2ish games
isn’t the answer to goal scoring problems.
expatmag
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:24 AM
Comment #6I watched the full replay of the west ham game and saw a decent semblance of the beginning of a partnership between Joselu and Gayle
Son of a Geordie
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Comment #7One can only hope for a brighter future with PCP. Onwards and upwards.
Jib
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Comment #8blew – don’t be so quick to judge
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:35 AM
Comment #9He may well be a fox Jib but Ashley and Churnley are weasels, and that was the problem in the summer.
Geordie1
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #10Merry Christmas fellow TOONIES just finished supping a bottle of bubbly let’s all hope that the New Year brings not only the change we so much desire but also the players.
Son of a Geordie
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:45 AM
Comment #11Interesting read jib. Big difference between u23’s and the epl, against Bristol even, but shows there is talent there with Ings.
We have been interested in ings for years now it seems, for whatever reason it hasn’t happened. Carver, Ashley, mclaren, pardew, many reasons.
Is a previously injured player worth the risk? Sometimes yes.
Maybe on loan he word be worth a try to reduce the risk to nufc being stuck with a crocked player, and get rid at the first sign of a recurring injury.
cornishman
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:50 AM
Comment #12Have a great Christmas everyone. Lets hope we get some of the rumoured names through the door and the sooner the better as Rafa has stated. I think, given Jack Wilshires recent form he won,t be leaving Arsenal.
JackButler
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:55 AM
Comment #13Ings is an upgrade in what we have, not a long term solution, but without knowing how much Raffa has to spend he could do a job as long as he’s the second striker through the doors.
Bambams
Dec 25, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Comment #14I am not sure if we will go for Ings on loan. I am not against it just have a feeling we may get someone better…..
JackButler
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #15The four players Ed has put up along with Shaw on loan would be a very good January for us.
Let the guess work comense on how much we have to play with?
Bambams
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #16Jack
We have no idea ‘re finances….
But I genuinely believe Rafa will have made sure he gets the players he wants this time.
Either Ash or Mand to fund in whichever way they have decided.
Ings I am not against but his injury record would concern me – where there are no guarantees with any player I still would be concerned.
We only get one month to get it right.
Rafa (I agree with many on here) will have players lined up for sure.
Only time will tell who they are.
Jack Root
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Comment #17Hope all toon fans have a merry Christmas and an Ashley free New Year.
JackButler
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Comment #18Bambams
Ings injuries would be a concern, but if he’s one of two that come in I’d take that.
But you’re right, Raffa will have everything in place and I expect our business to be done quickly so we can get on with turning around this season and secure our survival and then all wave goodbye to Ashley
Jib
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #19The positivity this take-over has engendered on
Tyneside and anywhere in the world there is support
(apart from this blog at match-time) is fantastic.
If the stuff said in the last 2 months on all forms
of media hasn’t shown Ashley what an opportunity
he blew, there’s no hope for him I’m afraid.
Son of a Geordie
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #20Bambams at #14
Here’s hoping that comes true
Toonfan8
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:31 AM
Comment #21I hope we will get better than Ings, and that is Batshuayi or Sturridge. Batshuayi would be perfect, has everything, pace, strenght, tachnique and know where the goal is. Then we need ideally Wilshere or someone of that mould. Then we need new goalkeeper big, strong with good distribution. These three are crucial, then winger and no.10 and maybee left back
L Toon
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #22Merry Christmas all. According to sky Brighton have an 18 million bid accepted for dembele. Every club big or small tries to be the best it can be and then theres what we do. Here’s to an ashley free new year.
RUNAWAY777
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #23Rafa Benitez will listen to offers for out-of-favour Newcastle trio Jack Colback, Mohamed Diame and Rolando Aarons in January.
Ron Knee
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:52 AM
Comment #24Merry Christmas, Ed!
Lindisfarne
Dec 25, 2017 at 11:59 AM
Comment #25Luke Shaw to Spurs
expatmag
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Comment #26L toon
Denied by celtic
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:28 PM
Comment #27Just thought I’d repost this before the hordes turn up!!
Happy Xmas to all of my fellow bloggers and especially to Ed and his family, your blog is the gift that keeps on given even through the rough times, long may it continue..
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:33 PM
Comment #28And to all of the Pagan bloggers, Happy Yule.
Lindisfarne
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:33 PM
Comment #29Rolando Aarons best game for us was against Mn City, could have a prominent place in the shop window on Wednesday.
Sherlock
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:36 PM
Comment #30Happy Christmas to all. I’m shattered kids up at 6am this morning.
I’m sure no forward momentum on takeover will happen this week yet still live in hope. Howay Santa sort it out.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:38 PM
Comment #31If we’re not getting Lewindoski or similar, I’d love to see Toney given a chance.
Having said that it looks like Joselu might actually be doing what we hoped he would.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:40 PM
Comment #32Lindisfarne
I’d hope that a serious side is put out on Wednesday and not a shop window side.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #33I reckon Lee Griifiths would be a good acquisition if he was available.
Bambams
Dec 25, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #34Have faith Boys….
Good times are near !
Off to The Pavilion with my Daughters for a couple…..oh yes
Enjoy Christmas Day you lot. Have a cheeky couple of pounds on Toon win tomorrow – it’s Christmas
U.S Magpie
Dec 25, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Comment #35I remember a day when we nearly signed Austin but Ashley said he was to expensive, wow doesn’t that now bite him in the ASS. We should have got that kid over two years ago, he’s banging in the goals against all the clubs. Ings would be a upgrade on what we have but yes, only if we can keep him fit. I still think we should look at Walcott, he isn’t getting game time and with the world cup around the corner he needs to play regularly.
Here are the player who’s contract are up summer 2018.
Alexis Sánchez , Mesut Özil, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Ross Barkley, Daley Blind, Emre Can, Luke Shaw, Fernandinho, Jack Wilshere, Yohan Cabaye, Marouane Fellaini,
Santi Cazorla, Diafra Sakho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Yaya Touré, Sung-Yong Ki, James McArthur, Bakary Sako, Robert Huth, Joel Ward, Ashley Young, Joel Robles, James Morrison, Aaron Lennon, James Morrison, Chris Brunt, Wayne Hennessey, Claudio Yacob, Jérémy Pied, Miguel Britos, Charlie Adam, Martin Kelly, Scott Arfield, Florin Gardos, Marc Pugh, José Holebas, James Collins, Michael Carrick, Gaëtan Bong, Stephen Ward, Uwe Hünemeier. I’m not saying sign we can sign or to even sign any off these but surely there are some on this list we could get on loan that will help us stay in the premiership. There are some that would walk into our team, only thing is how much and which ones would come for Rafa and the Fans.
lochinvar
Dec 25, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Comment #36Where is Ashley this Christmas ?
No doubt throwing cash at some seedy casino in Las Vegas eating cheesy chips, drinking bottles of cheap ale and looking longingly at the fireplace in the corner
Meanwhile
Where is Amanda this Christmas ?
No doubt lounging on some sun kissed beach, sipping Piña Coladas, leaving generous tips for the locals and looking a million dollars.
Whitley Bay hasn’t seen the like for a long time.
Class will out