Newcastle do not to leave their transfer business late this year with the club aiming to have wrapped up their new signings by the start of August, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Magpies plan for most of their business in the transfer window to be wrapped up by August 6, the same day that Hellas Verona will visit St James’ Park for the Toon Army’s final pre-season friendly and just six days before the Premier League kicks off.
It is also nearly a full month before the official closure of the summer transfer window,
That gives Rafael Benitez and his transfer team just over a month to seal the deals that they are set to be working on, with just one new arrival on Tyneside so far in the shape of Christian Atsu, after the Chelsea and Ghana winger turned his loan deal into a permanent one for next season.
The Chronicle reports that Benitez has held talks with the board over the club’s transfer dealings so far, with the shortlist of players reassessed moving forward.
They claim that the Spanish manager will look to target at least one new full back, another wide midfielder, a central midfielder and a striker to compete with Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic for a place in the starting XI.
Benitez has already suffered numerous disappointments during this transfer window, and will be hoping for change as he enters July and the window is officially opened.