OPINION
With the purse strings pulled as tight as possible by owner Mike Ashley, Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez knows that he has got to work miracles once again to try and force through some transfer business before the summer window is up.
The Magpies might have already seen a handful of new faces through the door at St James’ Park, most recently in the shape of Salomon Rondon, but considering two of those – Martin Dubravka and Kenedy – were at the club last season, and that the South American pair are both on loan, it hardly screams success.
Moreover, Benitez appears to have been limited to buying only after selling, with the exits of Mikel Merino, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba helping to fund the club’s spending – and it seems as though the Spanish manager’s desperation to get some cash into the pot has allowed the club to be robbed.
Another exit from Tyneside was Adam Armstrong, the former Newcastle youth star joining Blackburn Rovers for a confirmed fee of £1.75million after impressing on loan last season.
His price was deemed a brilliant deal by Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, who raved to Sky Sports: “I think he’s a snip, a bargain really, the tender age he is.
“When you look at some of the numbers going around for some players at the moment, I think £1.75m is a snip for such a young lad who has such power, dynamic speed, can score off both feet and be a real threat in behind.”
Mowbray is absolutely right with his verdict on the move – the price is far below what Newcastle could and probably should have got, but Benitez’s need for money likely resulted in them accepting Rovers’ offer without much negotiation.
If that is the sort of price that Blackburn got for Armstrong, then it casts major concerns about what they got for the others who have left – with reported fees, which are often disputed between news outlets, all fans have to go on.
Benitez needs the cash to strengthen his side, but accepting bargains for players keeps him scraping the bottom of the barrel for new talent.