Will Benitez be in a position to get Toon to where he wants them to be?
BOSS IDENTIFIES SIDE’S WEAKEST AREAS
NEWCASTLE United boss Rafa Benitez has made it clear the Magpies simply cannot afford to be spectators in the January transfer window.
He has told owner Mike Ashley he wants business to be close to completion by January 20 to have new players bedded in.
United must use the winter trading period to bolster their squad if they want to finish the job of staying up in their first season back in the Premier League.
Benitez was angered by United’s stance on the last window when transfer funds were not made available and they missed out on players like Tammy Abraham, who joined Swansea City on loan, and Willy Caballero, who signed for Chelsea after leaving Manchester City on a free transfer.
As we prepare for a new transfer window, these are the positions Benitez is believed to be looking at improving.
GOALKEEPER
Caballero was not the only goalie Newcastle tried to lure to St James’ Park last summer.
It is well known Benitez was also keen on Napoli’s No 1 man Pepe Reina, while West Ham’s Adrian was also considered.
With all three targets now out of the question, Newcastle will look again to bring in a senior goalkeeper to increase competition between Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow.
Freddie Woodman is keen to go on loan but no outgoing deal for the England youth international can be pushed through until a new shotstopper is secured.
Bury, Wycombe Wanderers and Kilmarnock all wanted Woodman last season but since then he has been told he must go out on loan and play regularly to retain his England under-21 place.
Newcastle have been linked with Olympiakos goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino in Greece, yet it is understood he is one of the many players to have been offered to the Magpies and no deal is imminent.
A senior goalkeeper who is prepared to fight for his place is the ideal signing in this area for Benitez.
FULL-BACK COVER
The Magpies feel they have plenty of options in the heart of the defence and this area is not a priority with Ciaran Clark, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune all battling for a place in Benitez’s starting XI.
Some wild reporting that Newcastle were in the hunt for Chelsea’s David Luiz was dismissed by sources close to Benitez last week and while the Toon boss has worked well with the Brazilian before he knows he has to be real-
istic in this window. Newcastle have been forced to field Javier Manquillo out of position at left-back due to an injury to Paul Dummett. Right-back Manquillo was originally signed to offer competition to DeAndre Yedlin but has played in 16 games so far for United. Now, though, Benitez does not want to take further risks and has already enquired about AS Roma’s Emerson Palmieri and contacted Chelsea over a loan move for Kenedy. Massadio Haidara is available for a January move but ideally Benitez wants two recognised fullbacks players fighting for a place either side of his defence. STRIKER Benitez always knew he was going to be light in this area and is still concerned about the lack of a regular proven goalscorer. When it become obvious he was not set to sign an experienced centre-forward he used the small amount of cash he was allocated to sign Joselu for £5m from Stoke City.
Despite suffering harsh words from critics, Joselu has still weighed in with three goals and an assist for Newcastle.
There has been tension from some observers over the lack of opportunities for Aleksandar Mitrovic but he remains third choice behind Joselu and Dwight Gayle.
Mitrovic is available for sale – but only at the right price with a £15m price tag on his shoulders and no loan bids set to be considered.
Both Partizan Belgrade and Anderlecht have been told to forget temporary deals.
Newcastle have already been in touch with Premier League clubs over loan deals – with Danny Ings of Liverpool a player they could yet turn to if other deals don’t come off. Callum Wilson of Bournemouth is another player Benitez has looked at signing before.