Newcastle United’s stellar rise up the Premier League standings has allowed Rafael Benitez to start to identify his transfer plans early, with the Magpies sitting in a decent position ahead of their season finale.
Benitez has seen his January acquisitions of Martin Dubravka and Kenedy, both on-loan, excel during their time at St. James’ Park and he’s understood to be keen on signing the pair on permanent deals, although the fight for the latter will be tricky.
Kenedy’s fine performances have led to a number of potential suitors for the Brazil starlet, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain all being attributed with holding an interest in the 22-year-old.
Unlike their rivals in the market, Newcastle cannot offer Champions League football but the ability to guarantee first-team opportunities could be decisive – and the Magpies will be encouraged by reports that Chelsea are open to a sale.
The Daily Mail claims the Blues have placed an asking price of £20m upon the head of the versatile wide player, who is capable of playing at wing-back or further forward, with Chelsea planning an overhaul as they need adjustments to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.
