No plan to sell forgotten duo in January to fund signings

BENITEZ RELUCTANT TO PART WITH PLAYERS BUT IS TARGETING NEW FACES

RAFA Benitez does not believe Newcastle United will need to sell in order to buy in January.

The start of the winter transfer window is less than three weeks away but the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic (above) and Rolando Aarons (inset) have already be linked with moves away from St James’ Park.

Former clubs Partizan Belgrade and Anderlecht are believed to be interested in the Serbian international but Benitez won’t sell anybody hastily at the start of the new year.

The United manager will hold a transfer summit with managing director Lee Charnley in due course after drawing up a shortlist of targets since the closure of the summer window.

Benitez told the Chronicle: “At the moment we aren’t thinking about selling anybody because we need our players. “I don’t know how much money will be available or what we will do. “We have to be sure that this group of players continue to work as hard as they are doing at the moment. “If we can bring in some positions or some help, we will do it. “But to do that, sometimes you don’t need to sell players to be sure you can attract the others.” Benitez has been ruthless in recent weeks with selection after dropping Jonjo Shelvey and DeAndre Yedlin and sticking to his guns when it comes to Mitrovic – despite pleas from fans to give the Serbian a place in the starting XI. Yet even though some players are out of form, Benitez knows that fortunes very quickly this month with United packing in five games before the turn of the year. The former Real Madrid boss said: “In football when you play so many games, especially in December which is a busy month, one good game can give you confidence. “For a couple of games, you are suddenly doing really well. “Once you play a few games in a row and confidence may be short or you make a mistake it can change again. “In modern football, you have to be ready for every game and be as fit as possible.”

We have to be sure that this group of players continue to work as hard as they are doing at the moment. Rafa Benitez