FOUR key areas Rafa will look to strengthen in January & the players he may target in each position

There have been some interesting articles released recently surrounding the potential takeover, explaining what may or may not happen in the transfer window come January.

The latest reports are that, despite the prospect of oil money coming into the club, financial fair play would limit our spend in the next window to between £50-£80m. It is has also been said that Ashley WILL in fact sanction some money for transfers even if a takeover does not go through by then.

Not £50m plus of course, but purely to keep us as an attractive proposition to sell, with it being in his interest as far as a potential sale goes to keep Benitez and the squad in a healthy position. The last thing potential buyers would want to see would be a club in free-fall or facing impending relegation.

So where do we need to strengthen and who may we target  in January, whether we are taken over by then or not:

Striker

Not bringing in a proven or quality centre forward was the main, and deserved criticism, of Ashley and co. this summer. Benitez has us well drilled, solid defensively and is squeezing all he can out of a committed squad, however – as the past week has shown – it is clear we lack the firepower to really progress up the table. Gayle was better on Saturday but big questions remain over his ability in the top flight, Mitrovic is clearly not trusted by the manager and although working hard for the team, Joselu appeared to be signed as a stop gap of sorts, showing once again on Saturday that he isn’t a 15-goal a season striker. A clinical forward is hard to find but United need to make this their priority this winter.

Potential targets with a takeover: Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Willian Jose (Real Sociedad)

Potential targets without a takeover: Danny Ings (Liverpool – loan)

Number 10

Another problem position for Newcastle over the last few years has been behind of just off the striker. Perez fills the role currently and although he is another hard worker, he lacks the cutting edge to make the role his own moving forward. Rafa favours a 4-2-3-1 formation so this role is key to our success, especially when we already lack firepower up front.

Potential targets with a takeover: Tom Cairney (Fulham), Dennis Praet (Sampdoria)

Potential targets without a takeover: Lewis Holtby (Hamburg), Gabriel Pires (Leganes)

Left back

A position in the summer that was certainly a weak point for us, as loyal servant Dummett’s limitations have been there for all to see. Dummett is still injured and Manquillo has come in and performed fairly well and certainly above expectations. So although not as urgent as options going forward, longer term a quality left back would certainly improve us. That being said, Rafa will be delighted with our defensive prowess so far this season, conceding less than a goal a game in the Premier League, however he’ll want a natural left-back to give us ‘balance’.

Potential targets with a takeover: Luke Shaw (Man Utd – loan), James Milner (Liverpool)

Potential targets without a takeover: Matty Targett (Southampton), Kennedy (Chelsea)

Winger

I still feel there is scope for a real quality winger to be added to the squad. Ritchie has been excellent all things considered this season, chipping in with four assists. Atsu started the season well, and still looks decent business, but has faded and Murphy has not delivered yet following his £12m arrival. Aarons is still in the squad but time surely is running out for the youngster to finally make a real mark on Tyneside. A winger who offers more goals would be a welcome addition and take some pressure off our misfiring strike force.

Potential targets with a takeover: Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid)

Potential targets without a takeover: Adama Traore (Middlesbrough), Kamil Grosicki (Hull)

Who would you like to see come in this January? Let us know your thoughts on the areas you feel need strengthening and the sort of players you feel we could sign with and without a takeover.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

165 thoughts on “FOUR key areas Rafa will look to strengthen in January & the players he may target in each position

  1. Unsurprisingly when the EU announced that they were developing legislation to outlaw tax avoidance schemes in member countries the rich decided that Brexit was a good idea, so the tories and the media sold it to the suckers as a patriotic thing to do.

      (Quote)

  2. Stuart79: Tax avoidance is endemic around the world. Millions of tradesman take cash for a lower price so they can avoid tax. People don’t complain when paying cash if it gets them a lower price for the work – even when they know it will be tax avoidance. People can go and buy their cigarettes in Tesco if they want but when they go on holiday they buy thousands because it’s cheaper because they don’t pay tax.

    The reality is that most people do it, it’s just that they don’t get exposed on TV or by the Guardian. We can’t have one principle for one part of society and another for the rest.

    It’s basically politics of envy and rather hypocritical.

    Politics of envy? I am actually quite well off and don’t envy the people that scam the system at all. I sort of feel sorry for them because money is all they care about.

      (Quote)

  3. Stewie: I could explain exactly why it is not fair but it would take a long time.

    Instead, I will explain a part of the US tax code. If you invest in Apple and make a profit you pay 15% tax. If you go to work at the local supermarket you pay roughly 20% tax. How is that fair?

    And that is before all of the scams, loopholes and offshore accounts.

      (Quote)

  4. When you get cigarettes cheap it’s hardly the same as what say Lewis Hamilton did with that private jet !
    I have had my drains relined for cash, but I have no receipt or rights, but it was done because my income is so low, the £500 it saved me will pay a couple of fuel bills. I could of made an insurance claim but then my premiums will double and they will only repair not put in place preventative fix as I have done. This was not my first choice obviously I would of liked the receipt and piece of mind but circumstances are that is was my only option. The super rich are not in this position and much of the tax avoidance they do is sheer greed imo. How much is enough money anyway ? For me if my bills are paid and council tax and foods on the table I’m happy. No holiday for 19 years for monetary and health reasons but I have sky sports which I enjoy year round, it’s my one extravagance . My daughters mate celebrated her 30th with a £500 meal for two ! that to me is nuts . I passed the oldest man in the street the other day, he was sat on the floor, dirty and frail and picking at a sarnie that I’m sure came out a bin. It was so cold and I just couldn’t bare the thought of this old frail man out in the cold at night. I asked him where he was sleeping that night, he didn’t know. I gave him £10 to get a hostel bed that night and a hot drink. I’m still fretting about where he went there after .

      (Quote)

  5. I’m not a raving liberal or socialist by the way, just a human being who thinks there for the grace of god and all that. If humankind spent a bit more time caring for each other rather than doting on number one , it might just be a better world to live in.

      (Quote)

  6. What you have to realise is that the offshore accounts and money laundering are scamming the system. It is not just a bit of playing tax avoidance. It is tax evasion , EVASION, that most of us do not do, and cannot do, because we do not have super well paid accountants and lawyers to save the last doolar. The system is set up to tax the less well off and allow the rich to get away with scams.

    Welcome to the machine!

      (Quote)

  7. kimtoon:
    I’m not a raving liberal or socialist by the way, just a human being who thinks there for the grace of god and all that. If humankind spent a bit more time caring for each other rather than doting on number one , it might just be a better world to live in.

    Kimtoon: I am not a raving liberal or socialist either. I think Tony Blare is c@nt .AND, I don’t get Stuart.

      (Quote)

  8. UK tax law. I have an allowance that if I earn more than £11k I pay 20% tax on. If I am an employee I pay that at source no allowances. If I am self-employed I can deduct some expenses, a room at home transport etc as costs so I only pay on profit, not income. If I set up as a ltd company I don’t pay any wages to my self I pay quarterly dividends. I only get £8k tax free but I only pay 7.5% beyond that up to £43k where I would pay 25% whereas if self-employed or an employee I would be paying a higher tax rate. Which should I do?

      (Quote)

  9. The one that allows you to pay a lower amount. You are not super rich and you are not trying to scam the system. You would be doing tax avoidance and not tax EVASION. This is what Stewie Thatcher doesn’t understand.

      (Quote)

  10. kimtoon:
    When you get cigarettes cheap it’s hardly the same as what say Lewis Hamilton did with that private jet !
    I have had my drains relined for cash, but I have no receipt or rights, but it was done because my income is so low, the £500 it saved me will pay a couple of fuel bills. I could of made an insurance claim but then my premiums will double and they will only repair not put in place preventative fix as I have done. This was not my first choice obviously I would of liked the receipt and piece of mind but circumstances are that is was my only option. The super rich are not in this position and much of the tax avoidance they do is sheer greed imo. How much is enough money anyway ? For me if my bills are paid and council tax and foods on the table I’m happy. No holiday for 19 years for monetary and health reasons but I have sky sports which I enjoy year round, it’s my one extravagance . My daughters mate celebrated her 30th with a £500 meal for two ! that to me is nuts . I passed the oldest man in the street the other day, he was sat on the floor, dirty and frail and picking at a sarnie that I’m sure came out a bin. It was so cold and I just couldn’t bare the thought of this old frail man out in the cold at night. I asked him where he was sleeping that night, he didn’t know. I gave him £10 to get a hostel bed that night and a hot drink. I’m still fretting about where he went there after .

    I really think you and me are very much alike,we think alike,isn’t it a pity there are not more people with the same mind set

      (Quote)

  11. kimtoon:
    When you get cigarettes cheap it’s hardly the same as what say Lewis Hamilton did with that private jet !
    I have had my drains relined for cash, but I have no receipt or rights, but it was done because my income is so low, the £500 it saved me will pay a couple of fuel bills. I could of made an insurance claim but then my premiums will double and they will only repair not put in place preventative fix as I have done. This was not my first choice obviously I would of liked the receipt and piece of mind but circumstances are that is was my only option. The super rich are not in this position and much of the tax avoidance they do is sheer greed imo. How much is enough money anyway ? For me if my bills are paid and council tax and foods on the table I’m happy. No holiday for 19 years for monetary and health reasons but I have sky sports which I enjoy year round, it’s my one extravagance . My daughters mate celebrated her 30th with a £500 meal for two ! that to me is nuts . I passed the oldest man in the street the other day, he was sat on the floor, dirty and frail and picking at a sarnie that I’m sure came out a bin. It was so cold and I just couldn’t bare the thought of this old frail man out in the cold at night. I asked him where he was sleeping that night, he didn’t know. I gave him £10 to get a hostel bed that night and a hot drink. I’m still fretting about where he went there after .

    Kim – What you did was perfectly legal. However, it’s likely that there might be no tax paid on that income yet you still paid it in cash. Nothing wrong with what you did. My point is that you can’t have two sets of principles based on the amount of money involved. It’s either morally right or wrong – the amount is irrelevant.

      (Quote)

  12. Change the law to close loopholes. Watch production and other job suppliers leave and set up elsewhere. Difficult one.

    There has to be some flexibility unfortunately because the world is not full of idealistic individuals and until it is, it will be a balancing act.

      (Quote)

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