Newcastle United look set to secure automatic-promotion out of the Championship despite losing their most recent game.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benítez
A report in the Chronicle has suggested that Newcastle United want to make as many as six signings this summer, but Christian Atsu’s future looks set to lie elsewhere.
Rafa Benitez’s men look to be well on their way to securing automatic-promotion back to the Premier League despite suffering a defeat in their most recent game with 10 points separating them from third place side Huddersfield.
Despite seemingly putting themselves in a great position to secure promotion, Benitez appears to be unconvinced about how well the current squad would do at the highest level with the Chronicle reporting that he hopes to bring six first-team ready players in during the upcoming window.
The Chronicle suggests that Benitez wants a new centre-back, central midfielder and striker amongst the cluster of new arrivals, with the likes of Andre Gray and Harry Maguire on their radar.
One player who looks set to not be a part of the Newcastle squad next season however, is Christian Atsu. The Chelsea winger has done quite well during his loan spell at St James’ Park, but the Chronicle adds that he is unlikely to sign permanently, so adding further depth on the wing will also be something Benitez will look to address.
Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu
It is perhaps a surprise that Newcastle want so many signings in during the summer given that no team has scored more goals than they have in the second tier, and no team has conceded fewer goals than the Magpies.
But the number of new signings wanted certainly suggests that Benitez has no plans to take one season to re-establish the club in the top flight before setting a much more ambitious target.
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