OPINION
Mike Ashley will stun Newcastle fans if he digs deep into his pockets in order to grant Rafa Benitez’s wish to snap up Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham in January.
According to the Northern Echo, the Spanish manager is a long time admirer of the 21-year-old forward and has urged the Magpies’ hierarchy to make contact over trying to signing the player on a permanent basis.
The newspaper claim that Abraham, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, is wanted by Benitez so much that he is appealing to Ashley to get a deal done.
Yet it’s clear that Benitez will likely be left disappointed unless Ashley takes everyone by surprise including supporters as Abraham’s price tag is reportedly mouthwatering.
Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported via his official Twitter account that Chelsea would want big money in order to part company with their promising forward and he would cost “much more” than the £10million that was mooted in the Northern’s Echo report.
Given that Ashley is believed to be selling the club even if he is likely to be charged in January, as mentioned in the Echo’s report, it’s fair to say Magpies supporters would be shocked if the owner spent well above £10million on Abraham.
The 21-year-old may be in red-hot form for Aston Villa, he has scored 12 goals in 16 league outings, but that wouldn’t be enough to see Ashley make a drastic change in the club’s transfer policy.
Given that much more than £10million likely means Abraham could cost between £15million – £20million, it suggests that the Magpies would have to break their transfer record to get him.
The most the Magpies have ever spent on signing a player is the £16million they spent on recruiting Owen in 2005 (Source: Chronicle) and it would be a huge shock if Ashley spent above that especially when he is trying to get the club off his hands.
It’d also be a surprise given how little the Magpies have spent under the businessman in the last few transfer windows.
Therefore with this in mind, Magpies supporters would be left stunned if Ashley gave into Benitez over his wish to have Abraham especially after Nixon’s update.
