OPINION
Rafa Benitez is no doubt still disappointed over not signing Bournemouth attacker Joshua King but he must use the 26-year-old’s red-hot form this season to aid his quest for funds at Newcastle United.
The Sun previously reported in April ahead of the summer window opening that the Spanish manager wanted a new No.9 and had made King his top target for the window to meet that need.
The newspaper claimed that Benitez was holding out hope that Magpies owner Mike Ashley would give him the greenlight to invest in players to a degree where he could afford to sign the £20 million-rated King.
Yet as time revealed Ashley didn’t exactly dig into his pockets anywhere near enough to welcome a player with King’s price tag, and that has been a contributing factor in why the Magpies have struggled so far.
Benitez’s side go into the second international break still without a win in the league and have only two points on the board.
The Magpies’ other stats also don’t make for fantastic reading as they have a goal difference of minus seven after managing to score just six goals in eight games.
However there’s no guarantee that Ashley will release the funds needed in January to help Benitez improve his side so they can shoot up the table.
The Spanish manager will no doubt have a fight on his hands to see cash spent and he must use the red-hot form of King to aid his cause.
The Bournemouth attacker is in sublime form currently as he has scored four goals, while assisting one, in his first eight league outings of the season.
King particularly shined on Saturday during the 4-0 demolition of Watford as he grabbed a brace and looked too much for the Hornets to handle.
For this reason it’s clear to see that the Magpies would be faring much better if Ashley had allowed enough money to be spent on the forward and he would have a much more peaceful life currently as fans wouldn’t be directing their anger at him.
Given this Benitez must really stress the issue and show how he could work wonders with funds then he must use King’s success this season as prove he can spot great players who would make the Magpies comfortable in the Premier League.
