By Neil Langer
With £42m in sales, (Mbemba £6m, Merino £10m, Sels £4m, Mitrovic £22m) and £16.5m spent, (Dubravka £4m, Schar £3m, Muto £9.5m) we all wait with baited breath to see who Rafa is allowed to bring in before the transfer window closes.
Given the ‘every penny’ comment from Ashley back in May, it would be reasonable to assume that Rafa now has at LEAST £25m left over to spend (£42 in from outgoing and £17m spent = £25m), but logic does not come into play when it comes to Mr. Ashley.
It has become so apparent that there was no money for transfers once again and the sales were needed to fund new players. How he justifies this approach to Benitez I will never know, although I get the fact his relationship with Rafa and all things NUFC is incredibly distant these days – despite him still having his handy men do his dirty work over the summer.
We have been shrewd raising £42m from the four players mentioned above, but it is such a shame Rafa wasn’t provided with additional funding. If he can get Dubravka, Schar, Kenedy and Ki for a combined £7m, just imagine what he could do with £70m..
There is no expectation from fans once again this season, with most believing survival is the target. A sad state of affairs when a world class manager is at the helm.
That being said, the players Rafa has signed all deserve their chance and that in itself provides excitement if not expectation – as limited as that may be.
Rondon sounds close, but Rafa still wants (and needs) full-backs, Lejeune cover and a new No 10 by all accounts.
With just over 10 full days left to do business the pressure is on – but I’m not holding my breath..
It is a pointless exercise to consider net spend as I believe all sales are paid in installments. Therefore 5million from Mitrovic and some money from other past sales. Looks like no more signings only swaps and loans if we are lucky.
LA Toon(Quote)
Is this what we have become and accept?
Steve(Quote)
We will get 4 left-backs – left back at their club, not at the Toon 😆
Toontaff(Quote)