With a potential takeover moving at a snails pace, Rafa Benitez looks set to work on a real budget ahead of what could be a crucial January transfer window for the club.
With this in mind, The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas has revealed TEN potential targets that Rafa may have his eye on in an interesting piece by the club’s official media partner this week.
Here we’ve had a look through each budget option they’ve featured and gave our verdict on whether they’d represent good business or not for NUFC this winter:
Sandro Ramirez (Everton)
Douglas states that ‘Benitez might fancy his chances of re-invigorating him’ after making attempts to sign the Spanish U-21 striker over the summer. He’s not been given much of a chance at Everton so far, so could be made available for loan if he continues to be left out the team.
He scored 14 goals in La Liga last season and would be a decent option – being capable of playing in several attacking positions or as a central striker.
Lazar Markovic (Liverpool)
He’s not featured for Liverpool all season after failing to secure a summer move away despite his impressive loan spell at Hull over the second half of the 2016/17 campaign.
January gives him another chance to secure a loan or on a permanent move away and he could be worth a look. Rafa seems to be keen on signing players of promise in a bid to revitalise their career’s and the ex-Benfica the winger fits into that category.
Danny Ings (Liverpool)
Douglas states that ‘Benitez is understood to be keen on a loan move and the striker would welcome the opportunity to get first team minutes.’, meaning this one could be a go-er in January.
There’ll be plenty of Premier League competition, but he’s a player that’d most likely be an upgrade on what we have and one who’ll be hungry to get back on the pitch after several spells out.
Personally, I’d welcome the arrival of Sandro, Ings, Shaw, Holtby or Markovic, feel the likes of Mangala, Musonda and McCarthy would be unnecessary and deem Torres and Ben Rafa to be very unlikely.
Let us know your thoughts on this lot folks? Any deal here you’d particularly like to see NUFC get done in January?
(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)
About Olly Hawkins
As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.