Our Newcastle United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are praying to the Angel of the North that Rafa Benitez gets the funds he needs to strengthen the Toon Army.

The Magpies have endured a rocky season, after a poor start, Benitez and his men shot up the table and mixed it with the big boys for a while. Since then, poor goalscoring form and a team that is lacking in new faces have struggled and now find themselves near the bottom of the table.

Our regulars have a soft spot for the Toon Army and are desperate to see Mike Ashley give Benitez the funds he needs to keep this Newcastle team in the Premier League, where it belongs. However, with much confusion around the takeover, Benitez finds himself in a similar situation to summer by not knowing what his budget is.

With that in mind, if Ashley wants to sell the club, he needs it in the EPL and our landlord takes a look at two things he needs to deliver in order for that to happen…

A Goalkeeper

If Benitez is to stand a chance of survival, he needs to build from the back. However well Rob Elliot has done this season between the sticks, Newcastle simply need better between the sticks. Indeed neither the Irish international or Karl Darlow have proven overly convincing of late.

It’s no disrespect to Elliot, he’s done a fantastic job by all accounts. Still, according to our barman on shift at the moment a strong, experienced in the top flight keeper can be the difference between none staying up or going down in most cases.

A Goalscorer

Alongside a goalkeeper, Newcastle needs to strengthen up the other end too.

The Magpies desperately needs goals and the fans in the bar demand entertainment week in, week out. So, without a player capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, they are going to struggle.

There’s plenty of fringe strikers looking for first team football around the Premier League and with it being a World Cup year, the need for minutes and to impress is high on the demand, so maybe Benitez can use his allure to bring in some quality.