NEWCASTLE UTD

MANAGER: RAFA BENITEZ YOU look from afar and see a club that has everything to take off. In Rafa Benitez they have a fantastic manager whose success at the top speaks for itself. Every time you go to St James’ Park, you feel how desperate the fans are for success but you also know they have been unhappy for some time with the ownership. Clearly the owners are operating to a different agenda to Rafa’s. If they were all pulling in the same direction what could they achieve? Until that day arrives they will continue to be in mid-table, heading towards the top 10. They look short of goals but I like the signing of Ki Sung-yueng, who’s always impressed me. He is a good midfielder with plenty of ability — and those sentiments can also be applied to Jonjo Shelvey. If he kicks on again, I don’t see why he won’t be considered for England. They have more than enough to get the results Newcastle need.

HOW WILL THEY FARE?

THEY won’t be in trouble but will be short of the European places.

MAJOR INS

Yoshinori Muto (Mainz, £9.5m) Martin Dubravka (Sparta Prague, £3.6m) Fabian Schar (Deportivo, £3m) Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea, free) Kenedy (Chelsea, loan, below)

MAJOR OUTS

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham, £20m) Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad, £10m) Chancel Mbemba (Porto, £7.2m) Jesus Gamez (released) Massadio Haidara (released)