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Report: Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez expecting limited January budget

Rafael Benitez Manager (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is already resigned to the fact that he will not have a significant amount of funds to work with.

Rafael Benitez Manager

According to a report from the Chronicle, Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is apparently already resigned to the fact that he will not have a significant budget to work with during the January transfer window and has been instructing his scouts to look for potential bargains.

Benitez has endured an incredibly frustrating time at St James’ Park, especially when it comes to dealing with transfer windows. The Spaniard has hardly been able to loosen the purse strings despite the Magpies registering a top-half finish last season.

And he will have to watch the pennies once again when the next window opens. The Chronicle reports that he is expecting another limited budget and is already looking for players in Belgium, The Netherlands and France in an attempt to uncover gems who could cost much smaller fees.

It is a risk for Newcastle to take. They did finish 10th last season, but only after a remarkable run after the turn of the year took them away from the relegation scrap that they looked destined to be involved in throughout the campaign.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez (l) reacts on the sidelines during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on September 15, 2018 in Newcastle upon...

And their start to this season highlights how underwhelming their summer was. Newcastle have faced some tough fixtures, but go into their trip to Crystal Palace looking for just their second point of the season.

Benitez was able to add options, but surely not the quality that he would have loved to invest in. And unfortunately, as things stand, it appears that he may need to work some serious magic in January to give the side a chance of replicating what they achieved in their first year back in the Premier League.

A general view of St James' Park during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on May 13, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.