Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has informed owner Mike Ashley that the ball is in his court regarding January transfers, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper report that the two senior figures met after the Magpies 3-0 win over Cardiff on Saturday and briefly spoke about potential recruitment over the next 10 days.
The Chronicle claim that Benitez told Ashley that he has done everything he possibly can in terms of drawing up a list of targets for managing director Lee Charnley.
It is said that Benitez has requested the club sign at least three players this month.
OPINION
It looks as though Benitez has thrown down the gauntlet to Ashley in terms of transfers in the coming days, with the Spaniard of the belief that he has done everything in his power to make something happen. It is hard to argue with that assessment, with Benitez and his staff known to have been extensively scouting and drawing up lists of targets for several months now. Benitez has made it abundantly clear what he wants from the window, and it is now down to Ashley and Charnley to make things happen. Their lack of activity so far in the market will be a point of frustration for Benitez, but as long as the club bring in a couple of players before the deadline then he will move on without complaint. Their win over Cardiff definitely brought a new sense of optimism to the club, and hopefully that pushes Ashley and Charnley into action in the coming days.
