Newcastle’s squad hardly needs much strengthening, but Benitez could bring in a few more players regardless.
Rafael Benitez is attempting to bring in a number of players in the January transfer window to guide Newcastle United back into the Premier League, The Chronicle reports.
The Spaniard decided to stay at St James’ Park despite their relegation from the top flight last season after being given unprecedented control over recruitment, justifying the faith placed in him by owner Mike Ashley by constructing one of the most complete squads ever to take on the second tier.
The likes of Matt Ritchie, Mo Diame and Dwight Gayle all turned down guaranteed Premier League football to join ‘Rafa’s revolution’ on Tyneside, while bargain buys such as Isaac Hayden, Ciaran Clark and Christian Atsu arrived to supplement an impressive first-team with quality in reserve.
And, according to The Chronicle, there could be yet more arrivals at the runaway Championship leaders when the transfer window reopens in January, with Newcastle targeting players who can provide an extra dash of quality in the final stretch of the season rather than those who they could sell on for a larger fee in a few years – a policy previously employed by Ashley to the detriment of the club’s top flight status.
Chief scout Graham Carr has been instructed to find players from across the continent rather than those located in France, a market The Magpies have dabbled in with mixed success in recent seasons, with the club taking particular interest in players based in Belgium, Holland, Portugal and Spain.
Newcastle were reportedly scouting 19-year-old Genk winger Leon Bailey, who has shone in the Europa League this season, The Chronicle reported last month.
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