Rafa Benitez’s contractual status and desire to sign players who don’t fit the club’s blueprint may complicate Newcastle United spending big in January, according to a reliable journalist.
Mark Douglas of the Chronicle during a question and answer session for the regional newspaper was asked whether the Magpies might splash the cash like they did in January 2013.
The trusted journalist shared that due to Benitez’s contract and him targeting players that don’t match the club’s blueprint then those issues would have to be resolved before any big spend is sanctioned.
“The structure is different now. Back then, Alan Pardew had virtually no power over transfers so Mike Ashley giving the green light to fast-forward Newcastle’s approach for players they were targeting for the following summer was a relatively simple process,” wrote the journalist at 16:40 on the Chronicle’s Live Blog.
“What seems to have complicated matters this time is that Rafa Benitez’s contractual status – and the players he wants the club to sign – don’t fit the club’s blueprint. So they have to resolve that issue before any big spend is sanctioned, I think.
“Hopefully they will – and that would allow signings. But if they don’t, the hierarchy and Benitez might be dancing the same dance they danced in the last few windows – and look where they left us.”
OPINION
It would be perfect if Benitez’s contract was sorted and he was given more of an uncensored say in the club’s recruitment policy in January, as you feel this would see big money spent on top-quality players. While the blueprint the club used is not completely known, the Chronicle did previously report that the Magpies blocked Benitez going after certain players due to having an age profile. It seems the club don’t like investing in players that they perceive as old, ones in their late 20s and 30s, and that does limit the options available to them. Firstly that rules out several players who could provide plenty of vital Premier League experience as you think footballers who fit in that category would obviously be on the older side. Also players in that category, at times, maybe on the cheaper side compared to going after an in-form 26-year-old who is about to hit their peak. While the Magpies should be targeting those sort of players, given there is a few areas of their team that need strengthening they need to stretch the budget where they can.
