A report has revealed five proven Premier League players that Newcastle United missed out on in the summer after Rafa Benitez claimed the Magpies cannot compete financially with many sides.
Ahead of Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, Benitez claimed that the Magpies are currently unable to financially match Premier League rivals, missing out on several targets in the summer.
As quoted by the Chronicle, Benitez said: “We have just arrived in the Premier League. Some teams like Watford and Burnley have been here two or three years, and the wages and transfer fees that they pay are bigger than us. It is a fact.”
In the wake of Benitez’s comments, the Chronicle have revealed five players that the Magpies saw head to rivals instead due to a lack of transfer funds.
Firstly, there is Jack Cork. The midfielder decided to leave Swansea at the end of last season and ended up at Burnley. Cork cost the Clarets a fee that could rise to £10million, and earns around £50,000-a-week at Turf Moor.
The Magpies then saw Kieran Gibbs head to West Brom from Arsenal, with the left-back joining the Baggies for £7million and earning around £80,000-a-week, a pay packet Newcastle could not afford.
Benitez identified the need for a new ‘keeper, and is said to have singled out Willy Caballero as the man he wanted. Caballero instead went to Chelsea after Newcastle refused to pay his £40,000-a-week wages, despite him being available on a free transfer.
Finally, there are two strikers, a position that Newcastle have desperately been lacking for quality this season.
Burnley’s Andre Gray went to Watford in a deal worth a massive £20million, and Bournemouth’s Josh King stayed put after the Cherries asked for more than £15million for the Norwegian international.
OPINION
The failure to sign so many quality players will be a kick in the teeth to Newcastle supporters, who will be hoping Mike Ashley is bought out as soon as possible. The Magpies have big problems at left-back, where Javier Manquillo is having to deputise, and Gibbs would have been a brilliant option for them. They also have clear issues up front, and either King or Gray would most likely offer more than Joselu, the £5million signing from Stoke. The fact that Benitez was unable to sign Caballero on relatively modest wages on a free transfer is the worst of the lot though, and Newcastle’s takeover cannot come soon enough if the club want to compete in the Premier League.