Restless Rafa sets deadline for Mike Ashley following meeting with Lee Charnley – Report

According to the Daily Mail this morning, Rafa Benitez has made it known that he wants to know his the January budget Mike Ashley will be handing him by FRIDAY – with the NUFC boss understandably eager to put his plans in to place ahead of next month’s crucial transfer window.

As confirmed by Benitez yesterday, he has recently held a transfer meeting with Lee Charnley, however he is now awaiting Ashley’s say as to how much backing (if any!) he will afforded in January.

Back to the story in the Mail, it comes from Craig Hope(one of the more well respected North-East reporters) who states that Benitez is now ‘frustrated that a stand-off in takeover talks between Ashley and Amanda Staveley has left him in the dark as to his transfer budget’, with him now being ‘desperate’ to action some much needed January reinforcements following our concerning run of form.

The story reveals that Ashley is now back in the UK, and although they claim talks with Staveley will continue, it is easy to see why Benitez is eager to get on with his January plans – with it seeming increasingly clear that new owners WILL NOT be in place to invest next month.

“We understand that Ashley arrived back in the UK on Tuesday after a holiday in the US and negotiations with Staveley and PCP Capital Partners will continue, although there is little chance of a deal being completed before the end of next month.”

Here’s what Rafa had to say during his presser yesterday, admitting that he is waiting to hear what he will be given in January after being left in the dark over Ashley’s January plans thus far:

Interesting listen with Rafa giving us an update on transfer targets. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/sRoRMZcDK4

— Newcastle Fans TV (@NewcastleFansTV) December 12, 2017

With many stating that new signing will be needed to guarantee our Premier League safety, let’s hope (if true), that Benitez receives an acceptable amount of money to spend if he gets a response by Friday.

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