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Reported Rafa Benitez frustrations understandable amid Newcastle’s slow progress

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez (REUTERS)
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With Jacob Murphy reportedly a target, Newcastle United’s failure to agree a deal so far would be an understandable cause of frustration for Rafa Benitez.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United future is in serious doubt, according to a report in the Independent, as the club continue to flounder in the transfer market.

The report claims the Magpies boss wanted to get his business done early in preparation for the new Premier League campaign, but he has so far only been able to recruit winger Christian Atsu and defender Florian Lejeune.

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez

As Atsu was at the club on loan last year anyway, while Yoan Gouffran is yet to sign a new deal and Sammy Ameobi has been released, a new wide man is key to Newcastle’s progress.

And this latest story detailing Benitez’s frustrations follows further reported delays in attempts to bring in a winger.

The Daily Mail had, on Monday, revealed that Sheyi Ojo and Jesus Navas were headed elsewhere, while Jacob Murphy – after a rejected £8million bid – and Adama Traore could prove too expensive for Newcastle.

While other clubs have also moved slowly this summer, it is understandable that – particularly at a promoted club – Benitez would take issue with delays in this area.

Newcastle are short of wingers, key in the manager’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and their £8m valuation of Norwich City’s Murphy – who is open to the move, according to the Chronicle – seems optimistic for an impressive England U21 international.

Should the Newcastle board fail to up their bid to bring in Murphy or a suitable alternative, few could blame Benitez for considering his future.

Jacob Murphy celebrates scoring the third goal for Norwich City