Mike Ashley ‘sanctions’ double deal – & Benitez wants both signed by Saturday – Report

According to the Chronicle, Mike Ashley has now sanctioned loan moves for Gelson Martins and Antonio Barreca – and Rafa Benitez wants both signed by the weekend.

After both were linked with moves to Tyneside late last night, it’s now been confirmed that the club have made moves to sign the Atletico Madrid winger and Monaco left-back – with the Chronicle now claiming that we are looking at loan moves with an option to buy.

Here’s a snippet from Lee Ryder’s latest piece, stating that Ashley gave Rafa the green light to sign both after a ‘short meeting’ over the weekend:

‘Newcastle United have submitted a loan offer for Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca – with Rafa Benitez keen to get a double deal done in time for the weekend.

‘Sources in Spain this morning also confirmed an approach for Atletico Madrid’s Gelson Martins after Benitez had moves for both players sanctioned by Mike Ashley following a short meeting at the weekend.

‘Both deals are loan offers until the end of the season with scope for permanent moves afterwards, but for Benitez the main concern is bringing in the required cover for his squad.’

It suddenly feels like the club are showing some form of urgency – which is interesting after yesterday’s news that Rafa would definitely quit in the summer if TWO players didn’t sign between now and deadline day.

That said, it sounds like Rafa’s top targets have been ignored once again, with Lee Ryder suggesting below that nor Marins or Barreca were at the top of Rafa’s wanted list:

Almiron seems to be the signing Rafa REALLY wants, however a deal to sign Gelson Martins would be considered quite a coup for the club – especially when so many weren’t expecting us to sign anybody this month.

Time will tell if we can get both ‘over the line’..

(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.

4 thoughts on “Mike Ashley ‘sanctions’ double deal – & Benitez wants both signed by Saturday – Report

  1. Now we have 4 players in the 1st team on loan so say we stay up and do quite well we are back to the same problem next year we are buying no one and investing nothing.

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  2. I’ll be tickled if anyone comes in loan or otherwise. Gotta figure both of the named are “projects” that Rafa will have to determine if they can cut it at this level. (NUFC would never buy anyone who coult wealk into the team.) So we may see them @ March if he can whip them into shape.

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  3. Why start a headline with ” Ashley sanctions double deal “?
    I wouldn’t have bothered reading article knowing they were loanees.
    Every fan is in the same frame of mind as to how Ashley operates.
    So thanks Rafa, you can walk away but we can’t. Only way is to boycott season tickets and matches, there is no other way or sign up to another decade of misery.

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  4. “Only way is to boycott season tickets and matches, there is no other way or sign up to another decade of misery”

    Sadly there are so many “fans” who choose to go to SJP because it’s their right are the selfish c nuts who keep this Fat bloke here.

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