Newcastle United need to seal at least two new signings during the January transfer window if they are to stand any chance of keeping Rafael Benitez past the end of his contract this summer, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Spanish boss is reaching the end of his tether with owner Mike Ashley and the lack of backing offered in the transfer market, having requested a pair of new players ahead of the new year.
It is stated that with his contract running out in the summer, failure to meet his requests will see him reject any offers of an extension and leave St James’ Park in the summer.
Opinion
This is the worst case scenario for the Newcastle faithful, who are facing the prospect of not only their side missing out on any recruitment this month but losing Benitez at the end of the season as a result. It makes absolutely no sense not to invest when the club are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League but that certainly seems to be the way Mike Ashley is approaching the situation and it is only going to end in tears. Two signings really should not be too hard to provide from the owner, especially when the Newcastle squad needs a lot more than just a new pair arriving on Tyneside, but his mind seems made up. Benitez has worked miracles with Newcastle up until now and while his genius could well keep the Magpies up in the Premier League at the end of the season he does not look like seeing out the project he would have liked to have completed. Newcastle are very much a work in progress but the loss of their leader and talisman will see them collapse.