Will Newcastle United have money to spend in January?
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has suggested to The Mirror that he will have money to spend in January.
Benitez’s side are struggling in the Premier League this season after yet another disappointing summer transfer window, stemming from a lack of funds.
Newcastle, who spent a little over £20 million on five players, are only one point above the relegation zone, but back-to-back wins in November have given them the momentum needed to put some distance between themselves and the stragglers before Christmas.
January reinforcements will be key if the Spaniard is to lead the Magpies to safety again this season, and Benitez suggests that owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley are aware that survival might hinge on winter investment.
“What I think is that Mike and Lee, when I talk with them they realise we are close and if we do the right things we will be better. Can we do it? We will try,” he told The Mirror.
“I am always optimistic [For January] because the team is doing well.”
The club made close to £45 million on transfers during the summer and only half of that was spent, so in theory the money should be there.
That being said, Newcastle fans wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if the Champions League-winning manager was denied funds yet again.
But with speculation mounting over Benitez’s future, can Ashley afford to disappoint his manager? It would be a massive, massive risk and, being a businessman, surely he knows it’s a risk not worth taking.
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