Rafa Benitez provided a promising transfer update following yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Preston, believing we are ‘close’ to making some more signings, also commenting on outgoing, claiming we must trim our squad over the coming weeks.
With Christian Atsu and Florian Lejeune the only senior signings this time last week, Rafa’s recruitment drive endured a slow start, however the recent £12m and £4.5m arrivals of Jacob Murphy and Javier Manquillo have suggested we are now picking up the pace.
Asked if we were close to a transfer breakthrough following yesterday’s game, Benitez said:
“Hopefully, we’re close to making signings, but I don’t know. We will have to wait and see.
“We (he and the club’s hierarchy) are in contact all the time. We still have time.”
Benitez then commented on outgoings, suggesting several of the current crop can not have futures at the club with Newcastle having to submit a squad of just 25 players ahead of the new season:
“We have too many players now, so not all of these players can have a future at the club,”
“We have too many now and we need 25 players. I I don’t know about those leaving, because it depends on other clubs, but we continue to monitor every situation.”
Rafa also suggested that new signings will take precedence, however it is only right that we look to move several on.
With Daryl Murphy sold to Nottingham Forest last week, I expect us to make efforts to move on the likes of Achraf Lazaar, Emmanuel Riviere, Massaido Haidara, Henri Saivet, Jesus Gamez, Tim Krul and possibly Aleksandar Mitrovic.
