United on the verge of two signings

BOSS DELIGHTED WITH NEW BOY JACOB AND HIS BROTHER COULD BE NEXT

RAFA Benitez has revealed Jacob Murphy is exactly the type of player Newcastle United were looking for this summer.

The Toon boss says the 22-year-old wanted to sign for the Magpies so badly he told Norwich City he was ready to quit Carrow Road to sign for his boyhood team.

Interestingly, Benitez also stated Newcastle have an interest in his twin brother Josh - and United tried to sign him last summer.

Benitez knows United cannot compete with the big guns in terms of finance this summer and hinted they are working with a limited transfer kitty.

Talking about the England under-21 star’s arrival, Benitez, speaking at United’s kit launch in Dublin, said: “He is the type of player we are looking for.

“It is not that we are signing the top-class players of the Premier League, we are signing the players we can.

“We are signing the players who can do a job for us.

“I am really pleased with him because he has shown character and personality.

“His desire to play for Newcastle United was there.”

Benitez also told the media the club have a long-term interest in his brother Josh, a striker at Norwich.

The United chief added: “Last year here in Ireland we were talking about his brother Josh.

“We liked him. I was following both of them. “I received a lot of information about both. “In this case we were looking for this kind of player. “We will see if he can reproduce his performances from the Championship in the Premier League.” When asked if a move for Josh Murphy was imminent, Benitez said: “I think we will have to wait a little bit. One of them at the moment will be fine!” Newcastle have had a successful week in Dublin with both Murphy and Javier Manquillo set to sign for the club after completing medicals in a city centre hospital.

Former Real Madrid boss Benitez added: “Sometimes when you are looking for players you are wondering if they are technically good enough.

“Or if they have pace or score goals or what they are like technically or tactically.

“In this case, the main thing is Murphy has pace and can score goals and pass.

“He wants to play for Newcastle United and that is a huge advantage.

“I am sure he will be working so hard in front of our fans in every game.

“He will help the team and help competition within the team.”