RAFA’S LIVING ON SCRAPS AGAIN
Toon boss cash-strapped
RAFA BENITEZ has admitted Newcastle are being blown out of the water by Premier League rivals.
The Toon boss has spent just £4m on signings since the end of last season and has only three weeks to bolster his squad before the transfer window shuts.
Benitez hopes to seal a £16.5m move for West Brom striker Salomon Rondon after Newcastle were outbid in the pursuit of their first choice, £22m-rated Nice forward Alassane Plea.
Speaking from Newcastle’s pre-season training base in Ireland, the Spaniard said: “As soon as the price goes high, I know we can’t buy those players.”
Newcastle’s transfer record has stood for almost 13 years at £17m, the price paid to Real Madrid for Michael Owen.
Benitez feels that has to change for him to assemble a squad capable of building on last season’s top-half finish on their Premier League return.
Hectic
He expects a hectic three weeks of wheeling and dealing.
“We have to be realistic with our budget – maybe sell some players and then buy some players,” he added.
“We have to adapt and we know the situation. It’s normal for us now, unfortunately we wheel and deal, it’s the way for us.”
Benitez remains keen on
£20m-rated Crystal Palace midfielder Andros Townsend.
But he must sanction Matt Ritchie’s £15m move to Stoke before he can step up his pursuit of the England winger.
Newcastle stand to pocket
£20m by selling forward Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham, with unsettled midfielder Isaac Hayden also set to leave before the start of the season.
The manager’s failure to pledge his future to Newcastle by signing a contract extension has added to the uncertainty at the club. With Mike Ashley still looking to sell-up for around
£400m, the club’s billionaire owner is unwilling to bankroll a major spending spree.
A £4m move to make Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka’s loan deal permanent is the only money Newcastle have laid out since the end of last season.
Chelsea’s Brazilian winger Kenedy has returned on loan for the season, and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has joined on a free from Swansea.
Newcastle are in the black so far this summer after raking in
£10m from Real Sociedad for Spain Under-21 midfielder Mikel Merino.