Benitez looking for budget buys
RAFA BENITEZ has revealed his transfer frustration after admitting Newcastle are being blown out of the water by their Premier League rivals.
The Spaniard has spent just £4million on new signings since the end of last season and has only three weeks left to bolster his squad before the transfer window shuts.
Benitez hopes to seal a £16.5m move for West Brom striker Salomon Rondon but, speaking from the club’s Irish pre-training base, manager Benitez said: “As soon as the price goes high I know we can’t buy them.
“We have to be realistic with our budget, maybe sell some players and then buy some players.
“It’s normal for us now, unfortunately we wheel and deal – it’s the way for us.”
Benitez remains keen on £20m-rated England midfielder Andros Townsend – but must sanction Matt Ritchie’s £15m move to Stoke before he can step up his pursuit of the Crystal Palace winger. TIM CAHILL, Australia’s leading goalscorer, has retired from international football after a frustrating fourth World Cup. The 38-year-old, left, who has scored 50 goals in 107 caps, only made a substitute appearance for Australia in their final group game in Russia, a 2-0 defeat by Peru. “I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career,” said Cahill. ●HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON, who continued to work as a dentist while in the job, has stepped down from his role as Iceland manager following the World Cup finals.