Ashley must buy to sell says Rafa
RAFA BENITEZ has told Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to invest heavily in the New Year to protect the club’s value.
With Ashley having talks with PCP Partners over a proposed takeover this week, the chances of a change of ownership at St James’ Park have increased.
But the talk has coincided with a slump in form. Defeat at home to Leicester this evening could leave Newcastle a point above the drop zone after a six-game winless run.
While PCP representative Amanda Staveley is considering upping her bid beyond £300million, she may have second thoughts if Newcastle’s bad patch continues.
Benitez is confident of survival but says only if the side is strengthened next month can he guarantee a stress-free second half to the season.
While he is being kept abreast of developments off the pitch, he has no idea what the outcome will be.
Neither does he know whether Ashley will be willing to back him financially, having felt badly let down by his chairman in the past two transfer windows. “I will have a meeting and ask the questions and we will see where we are,” said Benitez, who welcomes back captain Jamaal Lascelles and winger Christian Atsu today. “But at the moment I don’t know and I need to know where we are.
“I’m confident we can stay up but we need help in some positions because as soon as we have some injuries, we have problems winning games.”
Benitez is in no doubt the best way to hold up the valuation of Newcastle is by signing new players.
He added: “At any club in the world, the value depends on the first team and what you are doing on the pitch. It’s very simple. You have to make sure your team is strong enough to stay in the Premier League. “That has been my message from the beginning of the season and it’s obvious we have some positions that we have to reinforce. “Mike Ashley is a businessman who will have a clear idea about what he needs to do to improve his business and then it will be much better. “He wants to win because it’s good for him, so he’ll try to do that.” While Benitez is trying to bring players in, Leicester boss Claude Puel says Riyad Mahrez must not allow talk of leaving to affect his game.
Mahrez admitted this week he is still aiming to reach “the top”.
The Algerian wide man is under contract until 2020 but Mahrez put in a transfer request last summer. The only interest came from Roma and they could not meet Leicester’s £50m asking price.
It was an issue former boss Craig Shakespeare had to deal with before Puel came in and said he would try to ‘seduce’ Mahrez into staying.
But Mahrez has a new agent – Philippe Coutinho is in the same stable – which suggests another attempt to leave is in the pipeline.
Puel said of the Mahrez situation: “The most important thing is not to be distracted about other things. On the pitch, all the players must give their best for the team.
“Riyad, when you look at his performances, he is enjoying his football. He has a good feeling.
“He is a crucial player. If he continues at this level, then I’m happy.”
Puel goes to Newcastle with just one defeat to his name so far at the Foxes, and that was to Manchester City.