OPINION
Newcastle United’s January transfer plans could be ruined if they find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone by the time the window opens.
While there is still plenty of time to go before the winter transfer market, it’s still high on everyone’s thought at St James Park after another disappointing summer that didn’t see enough business done.
Rafa Benitez opened up to the Chronicle about his process when it comes to finding the ideal players to sign and his remarks showed how being in the relegation at the start of the window could ruin the Magpies’ transfer plans as a different stance would be needed.
“Sometimes you can go to a player but you have to find somebody similar, they may be at another team or be cheaper,” Benitez told the local newspaper.
“If they are similar you ask: Can they can do a job for you? You have to analyse all those things.
“After that, it depends where you are…but it is about the character of the player.
“If you are at the bottom of the table you can’t bring in a player who can’t fight,so you have to know as much as you can about each player and make a decision.”
The Spanish manager directly pointed out that a different type of player is needed to be signed in January, one with fight, which means this might rule out several options and spoil plans that are put in place ahead of the window if the Magpies find themselves at the bottom of the table.
Given that the majority of players should have fight, they’re professional footballers after all, it would no doubt be quality that is prioritise above other ones if that scenario develops which means it could cause the Magpies to act slowly in the window and ruin their chances of success.
Benitez’s comments already allude to the fact the club will effectively have their hands tied behind their back in the market as it sounds like a bargain budget will be what they’re equipped with, so the task of recruiting players will only be made harder if the club are in the relegation zone at time.
This will be the case as every other team looking like being in the relegation battle will no doubt have the same process as Benitez and everyone will end up targeting similar players which will drive their prices up.
Though the Magpies have a squad capable of being no where near the bottom three by the time the window opens, it’s a possibility that can’t be ruled out.
Benitez’s side are currently 18th in the table with only two points from their first six games.
Therefore this all means that the Magpies need to hope to be in a drastically better position come January as after Benitez shared his process in how he looks for players, the club’s league position could be a non-financial factor that ruins Newcastle United’s plans before the transfer window even open.
