Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has laid down the gauntlet to the club’s board by demanding four new signings before the close of the transfer window, according to the Chronicle.
The Magpies boss has been left frustrated by the club’s transfer policy this summer, with just three new signings brought in so far. Now he has taken matters into his own hands, presenting managing director Lee Charnley with a list of transfer targets.
The newspaper reports that Benitez has identified centre-back as an area of need, as well as including a list of left back options – including Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico – a striker and a new number 10.
However, Benitez was told that only a limited amount of money would be available to him, despite the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham on Monday.
Where Benitez and the board go from here is completely up in the air, with it looking unlikely that the Spaniard will get the four new recruits he desires.
OPINION
These are chastening times for Benitez and Newcastle at the moment. The club have made a decent amount of money this offseason through the sales of Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba, Matz Sels and Mikel Merino, yet little of it seems to have been made available to the manager. Benitez performed miracles at Newcastle last season in securing a tenth place finish, but the club is at risk of being left behind by their rivals if they do not significantly invest in the squad. The Spaniard is having to scrape the bottom of the barrel in terms of quality players that he can afford, and the board seem completely deaf to his protestations. You have to wonder how long a manager of Benitez’s calibre will continue to put up with these circumstances? Perhaps a couple of players will arrive at St James’s Park before the end of the window, Salomon Rondon appears likely to move, but whether that will be enough to placate Benitez remains to be seen.