OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has proven himself to be quite the realist when it comes to potential hope and optimism over the future and it appears as though that has continued heading into the January window.
To be fair to the Spanish manager and the supporters at St James’ Park they have not really been given much reason to be hopeful over a positive future on Tyneside, courtesy of the penny pinching ways of owner Mike Ashley.
The summer was something of a disappointment when it came to transfers and there has been little sign to suggest that things are going to change in the new year, with Benitez now admitting that the winter market is always a difficult one.
He told the Chronicle: “January is always quite difficult. It is not about how much it is about what players are available. If you see a player you like it’s a question of whether we can do it.
“You have teams in the Champions League who have settled squads.We just have to keep working hard and if we find the right player work on that.”
Now to the naked eye that does not appear to be all that positive – but wait, did he mention the Champions League?
Why on earth would Benitez be mentioning clubs taking part in Europe’s elite competition when discussing transfers – unless of course he was targeting players at teams in Champions League?
Now while that is putting two and two together to make four, it should leave Newcastle fans with that little bit of excitement that they have been lacking in recent months.
Yes, targeting a player is very different to actually being able to sign them but it seems as though Benitez is still wanting to be ambitious at Newcastle regardless of the budget available – and that is why Newcastle fans can be feeling renewed hope ahead of January.