Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JANUARY BLUES
RAFA WARNS ASHLEY TOON FACE THE DROP UNLESS HE GETS TRANSFER CASH
NEWCASTLE UNITED boss Rafa Benitez has once again told the St James’ Park hierarchy to back him in the January transfer window – or risk relegation.
The Spaniard is still fuming at the lack of support in the summer window, which saw him scrambling in the bargain basement for players like £5million Joselu from Stoke.
Originally, Benitez had made advanced moves for Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham, who, instead, joined Swansea and recently made his England debut against Germany.
Benitez doesn’t want a repeat of his underwhelming last window – whoever is in charge of the club in January.
Current owner Mike Ashley (above) is attempting to sell the club for as close to his £380 million asking price as he can get.
There is considerable interest from a number of parties, but it seems unlikely that any final deal will be formalised before the critical January window.
That would leave Ashley still in control of the transfer funds and, with a sale imminent, reluctant to splash the cash.
But Benitez, who has drawn up a list of possible signings, has warned that a lack of quality coming through the Tyneside door would leave the Geordies vulnerable to relegation.
A drop into the Championship would also cost Ashley, if no sale had been clinched before then, as the club would be worth less than in the highly lucrative Premier League.