Trying January

FAILURE TO PLAN AHEAD BY CLUB IS HAMPERING TRANSFERS

Newcastle writer WITH a third of the January transfer window having already elapsed, Newcastle United and Rafa Benitez find themselves in a familiarly frustrating position.

No new signings have arrived on Tyneside and, perhaps more alarmingly, no development necessarily appears imminent either.

The scouting has been conducted over a period of months – Benitez had identified his final list of targets by mid-December – and enquiries have been made.

Newcastle’s hierarchy is aware of the figures it will take to land the players identified, yet no reinforcement has been acquired.

Given Benitez wants a wingback, attacking midfielder and a forward as a minimum – though a midfielder could also become a priority with Isaac Hayden still pushing for a St James’ Park exit and all three of Mo Diame,

Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yueng currently struggling due to injury or unavailable due to international commitments – United are, yet again, making things increasingly difficult for themselves.

Benitez has cut a frustrated figure for a month now and his mood is only worsening as a result of Newcastle’s lack of progress in the market.

The Magpies’ manager has even introduced a self-imposed ban on discussing transfers publicly, primarily due to the fact he has nothing positive to say right now. Privately, Benitez admitted to his inner circle in late November he fully suspected this winter window would mirror the two previous exasperating mid-season trading periods.

Yet there are some who believe there was also a small part of him which hoped things would be subtly different this time. With his contract set to expire in under six