Newcastle United have appointed several new European scouts as Rafa Benitez seeks to revamp the club’s transfer network, according to the Chronicle.
The Newcastle-based newspaper report that Benitez is overseeing several changes within the club’s recruitment department, with deals concluded for several full-time scouts across Europe.
The Chronicle claim that Benitez now has eyes to call upon in Spain, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia, as he puts in place measures for the future.
It is said that current scouts Mick Tait and Paul Baker will continue in their current roles, as will Steve Nickson as head of recruitment.
Newcastle are reportedly looking for players to add to their development squad after several young talents were informed they would be released at the end of their contracts this summer.
Benitez is said to have ordered scouts during his Liverpool tenure to identify the top-10 talents in every European country, along with the very best players across the whole of the continent.
OPINION
This looks a good move for Newcastle, who have struggled with their academy in recent years. The only player to graduate to the first-team in recent years has been Paul Dummett, and it seems that Benitez is growing tired of this lack of productivity. A move to place feelers across the continent is always a good sign, and hopefully this new system will prove fruitful as the Magpies look to cement their place in the Premier League in the near future.