Game’s big names are out of your reach, Rafa

SLAVEN DELIVERS A REALITY CHECK TO STRUGGLING TOON

SLAVEN BILIC has told Rafa Benitez that Newcastle have been “thinking too big” on their return to the Premier League.

Toon boss Benitez (above) has spent much of the summer complaining about the lack of investment in his squad.

But Newcastle have had a net spend of £26million during this transfer window – more than the £18m net outlay by Hammers manager Bilic.

West Ham have splashed £36m on strikers Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez (right), but they have also had a summer clearout of their squad.

The two struggling teams – who have both yet to win in the Premier League so far this season – meet at St James’ Park tomorrow.

And Bilic (top right) said: “In this transfer window, I have followed who Newcastle have bought and sold.

“They are not happy with the transfers, but they spent more money than we have in this transfer window,dow, if we are talking about net money.

“OK, they maybe aybe needed to improve more because they were coming up from the Championship..

“But it is a big club and they ey were al l buzzing.

“They won the Championship and it t was; ‘ Now we are going to rule thee world, or whatever’.

“What I think happened is that they tried, but maybe they were unable to get those targets they wanted – it was a bit like what happened to us last season. “Maybe they were thinking too big and those players, who they wanted so much,much didn’t want to come. “But I know t they are an ambitious club – Newcastle United with R Rafa Benitez.” To the Geordies’ disappointment,disappoi the club ha have lost their first three games of the season for the first timetim since Ruud GullitGul was in charge,charg back in 1999. TheTh latest setbackse came withw the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat after extra time by Nottingham Forest.

But Newcastle winger Rolando Aarons has pleaded for calm and said: “We are only three games in – it is not the end of the world.

“We are still working hard behind the scenes. That is why I say; ‘Don’t overreact’.

“We have got quality here, but we’re just missing a little something at the minute.

“I don’t think we’re too down. Maybe there’s stuff going on I don’t know about, but in the changing room we get on with each other and we’re working hard.

“I wouldn’t say West Ham is a huge game because we’re still three games into the season.

“Every game becomes bigger when we haven’t picked up a result.

“But I’m sure that we’ll do well on Saturday.”