United could miss signing targets: Rafa

RAFA Benitez has admitted he could miss out on certain transfer targets in the last three weeks of the window.

The Spaniard offered a refreshingly honest response to questions about recruitment after United’s training session at Carton House.

The Toon boss was eager to have all of his business done by this stage of the summer but has only landed three players so far.

Alassane Pléa was a player Benitez wanted to sign but the Magpies were outbid by Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Benitez said: “He was one of the names on the list.”

The club remain in talks with West Brom in bid to buy Salomón Rondón, who is available for £16.5million.

Benitez said: “Always in the window, you have to do things quickly.

“if not, you are losing your targets and then you go, later on, to players who maybe are not as good as you are expecting in different positions.”

Reflecting on the lack of speed on certain deals, he added: “We will try to sign the right players with the characteristics we will need for the games.

“If you go early, you can sign the first or second choice.

“If not, you go deeper and deeper (down the list of targets).

“The fans need to understand these players here are giving everything, so we have to support them.

“We cannot say ‘oh, he is not good enough’ because, sometimes you cannot sign the players you want but the players who are good for you and the squad.”