TOON RAFA IS BEGGING: SHOW ME THE MONEY

RAFA BENITEZ claimed Newcastle cannot compete with the Premier League’s big clubs until they are on the same financial footing.

Benitez is waiting for a proposed £300million takeover of Newcastle to go through that is likely to see him handed the funds he needs to take the club to the next level.

With Manchester United having spent close to £300m in two summers under Jose Mourinho, he admitted the Magpies cannot hope to get back among the elite English clubs until they start to invest heavily in their squad.

“It’s very hard to get away from the money situation,” said the Toon boss.

“For a newly-promoted team like us, it’s always going to be difficult because we haven’t had the same level of money for the last couple of years.

“That’s a massive thing. The teams at the top of the table, they have that money, plus all the extra money from the TV and the Champions League, plus the money they already had before. That’s a big difference.

“I don’t know what will happen. I’ll keep working until January as hard as I can to improve my players, and if we can do something, we will.

“If not, I’ll try to improve the players that are available to me. The money that United have spent in the last five years is massive.

“The players they have are very good players, so even if you’re doing very well, if you don’t take your chances, you pay for that.

“Then they can make substitutions and keep their level, and you have to do everything pretty much perfect.

“For 90 minutes, that’s very difficult at this ground.”