Rafael Benitez wants Premier League outfit Newcastle United to smash their transfer record for a striker – like Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen.
Rafa Benitez was in bullish mood on Tuesday as he discussed what could be another fraught transfer window at Newcastle United.
The Spaniard has worked wonders on Tyneside, keeping Newcastle in the Premier League and guiding them towards a top half finish despite being handed a minimal budget by owner Mike Ashley both last summer and in January too.
Now, Jorgensen will be a familiar name to Newcastle supporters. Benitez saw a £15 million bid for the Danish targetman rejected in January and, with Feyenoord demanding around £20 million, the Tyneside giants were eventually priced out.
But the Star reports that Newcastle could make another bid for Jorgensen this summer – though that would require Ashley to shatter the club’s transfer record for the first time in 13 years, when they paid £17 million to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid.
Whether Jorgensen is the right man remains to be seen. The former Copenghagen striker scored 21 times and set up 11 more as Feyenoord won the Eredivisie title for the first time this century last season but 2017/18 has been a struggle in comparison.
The Rotterdammers surrendered their crown to PSV and Jorgensen has scored just 10 league goals all season.
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