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Rafa Benitez reportedly has one big request of Newcastle for January

Manager of Newcastle United Rafael Benitez appaluds the crowd after the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United at John...
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The Newcastle United boss knows the transfer window could be huge for the club and has reportedly picked out several players.

Manager of Newcastle United Rafael Benitez looks on from the sidelines during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United at John Smith's Stadium on December 15,...

Rafa Benitez wants Newcastle United to move as quickly as possible once the transfer window opens in January – something they admittedly failed to do a year ago.

January 2018 saw the Magpies wait until the end of the window to complete three loan deals and that is something the boss wants to avoid this time around.

“We were ready to go last year but we didn’t move quickly,” Benitez told the Chronicle. “Now we are nearly there again in January.

“It is being sure we have the green light and then we can start properly and do what we have to do.”

Newcastle know that a big transfer window would make life an awful lot easier for them over the second half of the season and the Chronicle claims Benitez has already made several targets clear to the club.

Ritsu Doan of Groningen and Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron are named, but the Spaniard is also allegedly looking at ‘several European loan deals’ as Newcastle hunt for a striker.

(L-R) Michael Chacon of FC Emmen, Ritsu Doan of FC Groningen  during the Dutch Eredivisie  match between FC Groningen v FC Emmen at the NoordLease Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Groningen...

It is no surprise that Benitez wants to move quickly when he has already got the targets in mind. He will naturally want as much time as possible with them and, the sooner they arrive, the sooner they can have a positive impact.

But there is reportedly one familiar problem holding things up: Newcastle and Benitez simply do not know how much money Mike Ashley will make available.

Until that is known, Benitez is unlikely to get his request granted.

Miguel Almiron #10 of Atlanta United celebrates their 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers during the 2018 MLS Cup between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on...