OPINION
After a season of struggles when it came to their side’s attacking threat, Newcastle United fans were left pinning their hopes of improvement on summer loan signings Salomon Rondon and Kenedy.
Unfortunately for the Toon Army, they are yet to see any signs that the pair are going to do what is needed on Tyneside.
Seven games into his Newcastle career and Rondon has just one goal – a League Cup strike against Nottingham Forest – to show for his efforts, with injury having curtailed his campaign so far.
As for Kenedy, he has not shown anywhere near the same quality as he did last season, with a single goal and not one assist in 11 appearances – an atrocious record for someone who is meant to be front and centre when it comes to creating chances.
With the pair having both been loaned from English sides – West Brom and Chelsea respectively – the Premier League’s rules mean that unless either of the pair leave Newcastle, Benitez cannot sign another temporary deal from another side in England.
Which is why the Spanish boss needs to be looking at tearing up Kenedy’s deal with an eye to an ambitious loan swoop for another Chelsea talent left wasted on the sidelines.
England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek – who stands at a colossus 6’3″ (source: Transfermarkt) in the middle of the park – has just six appearances, three coming as starts, this season and it should be a crime he is not being used more often by Maurizio Sarri.
Despite his lack of game time, the Mirror claim the Chelsea boss is not looking at sending the fringe talent out on loan, but an ambitious move from Benitez, which would have to see Kenedy head back to Stamford Bridge, would be brilliant for the Magpies.
Yes, it would mean losing a winger – one who has done very little all season – but it brings in an attacking midfielder, one of Newcastle’s biggest weaknesses right now, who could transform their play.
Kenedy is doing nothing for Newcastle when playing, while Loftus-Cheek is doing nothing for Chelsea sat on the bench – and as such swapping the pair would be perfect for Benitez.