Rafael Benitez has insisted Newcastle United are ready for the January transfer window, regardless of the club’s ensuing takeover.
There is talk of the Spaniard being granted a super size budget for the upcoming window should the club change hands before the turn of the year, with figures as high as £500 million being banded around in the tabloids.
Should Mike Ashley remain in charge, they will of course not have anywhere near that kind of money, however Benitez says who budget is irrelevant and his club are ready to do business regardless.
“The first thing you are looking for is good players. Then you put a list of good players and after you put the prices. So we are looking for good players. Then if we cannot come here, OK, we will come here. But still we have a list.” said Benitez via the Chronicle.
“I have told the scouts to just look for good players and after we will decide where we are. It is too early, but we have to have the names. One side or the other side (of a takeover happening), we have to have the names. They have to do that.
“There are players that you cannot sign, even if you have money, you cannot sign these players because they play Champions League, Europa League or whatever with a top side. So you cannot waste time with these players. But the others you have to know all of them and be ready.”
