NUFC make left-back move – but is this yet another sign that Benitez has been ignored?

By Neil Langer 

With just a few days left of this summer’s transfer window, the Toon are currently being linked with a move to sign young PSG left-back Stanley N’Soki – with a £6m bid (plus bonuses) being reported.

One question enters my head with this one. ‘Is an unproven 19-year old REALLY someone top of Rafa’s wish list?’ I highly doubt it.

Given the lack of proven senior players in this current squad, we don’t want another promising talent -we need an established one. I’m sure N’Soki is a player Rafa likes, but I’d be VERY surprised if he’s anywhere near his top target.

Argentinian international Nicolas Tagliafico was strong linked last week  – with The Chronicle confirming that he was a target of Rafa’s – however it was suggested that we’d look elsewhere as £8m plus would be ‘too much’.

It’s claimed that Rafa makes the decisions on new players, but it feels like his initial list of targets for summer signings has long been torn up.

He stressed the need for experience and proven Premier League players just a few weeks ago, yet here we are making bids for a 19-year old who’s played just two competitive games for PSG.

It’s now a case of taking the unproven inexpensive ‘talent’ available, each and every one of them an unknown entity. N’Soki may be a big talent and a brilliant player in a few years, but we thought the same about both Mbemba and Mitrovic – and look how things turned out for those two (we got relegated the season they signed).

We need player for today, not tomorrow – but the club seem obsessed about sell on potential above all else.

In terms of net investment, we currently stand bottom of the Premier League. Now that’s rather ironic, let’s hope it’s not a sign of things to come.

How can a club like Brighton shell out £50m whilst we scramble for loan deals and frees, refusing to sign players that will cost more than £6-7m.

Are we paying modest playing staff too much? Where are the finances haemorrhaging? With fifty two thousand match day tickets constantly sold, we are up with the biggest clubs, yet we appear to be financially out of our depth.

What is the ‘business man’ doing wrong with the business?

Ashley has got so much wrong since his arrival at St. James Park, which makes you think he has been ill advised.

He did however bring in Rafa Benitez and let’s face it, this is a far cry from Joe Kinear.

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