OPINION
Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has done a stellar job so far this summer with such limited funds, signing five quality players for a combined fee of around £16million.
Martin Dubravka was first to arrive for around £3.5million from Sparta Prague, Ki Sung-Yueng then followed on a free transfer before Kenedy joined on loan, with Fabian Schar costing £3.5million and Yoshinori Muto around £9million.
For a manager so limited on funds this has been an impressive window, and Benitez is not finished there, with the Spaniard eyeing several more signings before the season begins.
As reported by the Chronicle, Benitez has told the club he wants four more signings this summer, with attacking midfield being one of the positions he wants to strengthen.
And as reported by the Guardian, Newcastle are set to miss out on one of the most promising number tens in world football to a close rival, with Crystal Palace on the verge of signing Max Meyer on a free transfer.
The Germany international has been without a club since leaving Schalke, with many of the belief that his wage demands of £7million a season were holding up any deal.
However, Palace look to have the money to fund such a deal, and there is no reason why Newcastle would not have the funds to do so too.
Say the club offered Meyer a four-year contract, this is a deal which cost the club a total of £28million in wages over that time.
For a Premier League club raking in hundreds of millions every year from TV rights, that is a hugely affordable fee considering there would be no up front cost.
Mike Ashley’s insistence on spreading costs out would be satisfied, and Newcastle would have a dazzling young attacking midfielder tipped for the top of the game on their hands.
Instead, the club are left twiddling their thumbs, and will no doubt end up with a player of far inferior quality in a deal that makes far less financial sense.
It is hard to get away from the thought that Newcastle have committed an almighty blunder in not pursuing a deal for Meyer, who will no doubt prove to be a shrewd acquisition for close rivals Palace in the coming season.
