Magpies boss Rafa Benitez says he is keen on getting his squad finalised as soon as he can but that there are still a “few things” ongoing that will need to be resolved before the start of the season.
No doubt he is suggesting that he is hopeful of resolutions in the futures of Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko but if and when both players depart, more transfers could be inbound. Rafa is quoted by the Shields Gazette as saying:
“We want to finish getting the squad together as quickly as possible. Then we can start thinking about what we want to do with the team. You want your team to be sorted as soon as possible, but at the moment, we are still having to wait and see what is going to happen with a few things. Little by little we are getting there though.”
Newcastle finalised their sixth signing of the summer yesterday with the arrival of Grant Hanley from Blackburn Rovers for £5.5million in a protracted transfer which saw two bids rejected by Rovers before a deal was finally agreed. It follows the arrivals of Jesus Gamez, Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, Matz Sels and Isaac Hayden this summer. From Benitez’s comments, it certainly suggests that there will be more incoming transfers before the first match of the season against Fulham in two weeks time.
