Newcastle United supporters have been drowning their sorrows in the Transfer Tavern this week after seeing their side go down 3-1 to Premier League champions Chelsea on Saturday, thus suffering a fifth defeat in their last six matches.
Rafa Benitez’s men went into their clash with the Blues off the back of drawing 2-2 with West Brom in midweek, thus bringing to an end a four-match losing streak which had seen them fall out of the division’s top ten. And although Dwight Gayle gave them an early lead at Stamford Bridge, that was as good as it got for Magpies supporters, as a brace from Eden Hazard as well as an Alvaro Morata header sealed a comfortable victory for Antonio Conte’s side, who in turn secured a tenth win of the campaign, at the same time instigating Newcastle’s fall to 15th in the Premier League table.
Consequently, there have been several despondent Magpies fans in the Tavern this week, many of whom are likely to be intrigued by a recent report from The Daily Mirror, which details that manager Benitez is hoping for at least £20 million to spend in January in a bid to stave off Premier League relegation.
The Spaniard only brought in six players over the summer, one of which was turning Christian Atsu’s loan into a permanent deal, with their highest outlay the reported £12 million they gave to Norwich City for boyhood Newcastle fan Jacob Murphy.
Thus, the current squad is largely made up of players who helped the club win promotion from the Championship last season, and with some areas of the squad lacking in sufficient depth, Benitez will reportedly ‘demand’ £20 million to spend in a bid to bolster his ranks.
And with a new striker, a number ten, and a left-back reportedly on the agenda, it’s clear that the former Chelsea chief is placing huge emphasis on the January window, and were the uncertainty off the field to remain between now and the New Year, it very much remains to be seen whether he gets his demands.
Landlord’s verdict: Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez was evidently frustrated over the summer at his side’s inability to get key transfer deals over the line, with just six players moving to St James’ Park, one of which spent the season on loan there last term.
And their recent run of poor form has clearly highlighted to the Spaniard that more players are needed in the winter window, and he is reportedly hoping for a £20 million kitty to get the reinforcements he feels are necessary to keep the club in the Premier League.
In today’s money, £20 million isn’t a huge sum for a top-flight club, so Benitez’s demands are obviously reasonable, but with the lingering uncertainty about the future of the club off the pitch, it remains to be seen whether he does get his demands.
And not fulfilling his wishes would surely call into question Benitez’s own future at the North East giants.
Newcastle fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know!
