Benitez has Kenedy in sights for United deal

Rafa is keen on signing Brazilian winger Kenedy RAFA Benitez has refused to knock down talk that he is ready to sign Chelsea’s Brazilian winger Kenedy.

The Newcastle United boss wants to bring in the winger plus a new striker in time for deadline day and he is looking at a number of loan deals and possible favours from other Premier League clubs.

Speaking at a Press conference, Benitez said: “We have some targets, but we also have a lot of players in this team.

“We need to find this balance.

“We are progressing with some targets and we’ll see if we can bring them in.”

When asked about Kenedy specifically, Benitez said: “We’re progressing with some players and maybe he is one of them.”

Benitez also spoke about his decision to hand Jamaal Lascelles the captain’s armband.

He said: “I’m happy to keep as Jamaal as captain because he was good last season.

“When you have new players, it’s important to have someone who knows what it means to be the captain of this team, what it means to help the others to settle in and what it means to push everyone to give everything in every game.

“I think he was great last season, and hopefully he will continue to be a good captain for us in the future.”

And the United chief also stated Jack Colback could still have a future at the club despite reports he was set to be left out of Newcastle’s 25-man squad.

Benitez said: “I talk with my players individually, privately, and I am telling them what I think, my opinion, and it depends on each one.

“But at the moment. he’s a player of the squad.”