Spend or it will be a season of struggle, boss warns the Magpies

RAFA Benitez has issued a warning over the dangers of failing to invest in his Newcastle United squad this summer.

The Magpies’ boss has been operating with a limited budget compared to many of the Premier League’s rivals this summer with newly-promoted teams like Cardiff City, Wolves and Fulham all splashing out.

Last term’s top-flight new boys Huddersfield Town and Brighton are also looking to kick on this season after a successful survival bid last term.

Toon owner Mike Ashley has experienced relegation before and twice had to fork out money to either maintain or build teams worthy of promotion in 2010 and 2017. Benitez knows the next two weeks will be crucial in terms of where United can set the bar as far as expectations are concerned.

The Spaniard said: “Everybody is expecting you will improve the team and improve the squad.

“All the Premier League teams are spending big money and they know how important it is.

“I said last year, and I am saying this year again, that when you are talking about so much money from the TV deal it is crucial to stay in the Premier League if you want to compete.

“If you go down, the next year is even more difficult because the difference in money is massive.

“Hopefully, we can do well in the next two weeks and we can improve the squad enough to at least be competitive next year.”