Saunders warns of Toon ‘car crash’

RAFA Benitez and Newcastle United are heading for a “car crash” at the moment, claims ex-Magpies coach Dean Saunders.

The former Wales international forward believes United’s lack of spending this summer will be angering Benitez.

Newcastle have signed five players so far and have spent around £35m on signings, whereas many pundits have stressed the Magpies need to be investing at least three times that figure during the current window.

And Saunders, who was part of Graeme Souness’ backroom staff at St James’ Park, says he fears Benitez was promised a significant amount of money to spend should he lead the Magpies to promotion.

Yet now that has happened, owner Mike Ashley appears to have only afforded Benitez a restricted budget.

For a start, Benitez has sought a new striker all summer yet, with just a week left before United kickoff their season against Tottenham Hotspur, no forward has been signed.

Saunders, speaking on TalkSport, said of Benitez: “The conversation when they appointed him would have been, ‘Come and get us back up, we’ll give you a good contract. When you do get us back up we’ll let you spend this amount of money’.

“The problem is, that spending isn’t happening at the moment.

“Benitez, the way he is, doesn’t mess around. There’s a car crash coming at Newcastle.”