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Benitez backs Toon for top eight if takeover produces new players

RAFA BENITEZ reckons Newcastle’s proposed takeover could propel them into the top eight.

Owner Mike Ashley was unable to get his festive wish of a sale by Christmas but Amanda Staveley and PCP Capital Partners remain keen to buy the club and talks are ongoing.

And boss Benitez said: “I think that this club still has great potential.

“If we do the things we have to do now in January and we stay in the Premier League, it’s one of the teams that has to be in the top eight, watching the table and the size of the other teams.

“But we have to be sure we understand that is a crucial time for us.”

Benitez has made no secret of his desire to bring new players to St James’ Park and concerns about the quality of his squad.

His repeated calls for reinforcements could easily have a negative effect on his existing squad but Benitez insisted they share his hopes for new signings.

“The players, they know,” he said. “They know the quality of players. What they want is to bring players to compete and be better.

“You are the right-back, what do you want? You want strikers and midfielders and centre-backs.

“If you are the left-back, you want a right full-back and a striker.

“Nobody wants a player in his position but everybody knows and understands that we need players and the team will be better and then we can win more games together.”

ANTONIO CONTE reckons he would step into battle beside Bayern Munich ace Arturo Vidal. The Chelsea boss is eyeing a summer move for the Chile midfielder (left) and said: “If I have to go to war, I will go with him.”

TURNING POINT Dwight Gayle celebrates the Toon’s winner at West Ham