The Chronicle have confirmed that Rafa Benitez is looking to secure permanent deals for Kenedy and Martin Dubravka this summer – with Manchester Utd’s Luke Shaw also a player he ‘retrains an interest in’.
As confirmed last week by the Chronicle, a deal for Dubravka is all set to go through this summer, with his impressive performances making a permanent deal of around £4m seem like a shrewd investment.
Then to Kenedy – a player whose made an immediate impact since his loan move from Chelsea, scoring 2, assisting 2 and winning a penalty since his debut against Burnley in January.
He’s show his class and looks to be a real talent Rafa can get the best out of, however the Mirror feel he could demand a fee of £15m if we are to make his loan move permanent – something Benitez is clearly keen to push through.
Shaw is another player mentioned. He’s unsettled at Old Trafford and one Rafa was looking to bring to NUFC on loan in January, and it’s interesting to read below how Benitez would plan to accommodate him and Paul Dummett in the same team:
“Shaw is a player he retains an interest in. Paul Dummett has been outstanding at left-back but there has always been a belief at United that he could move into the centre of defence in the long-term, and Benitez is of the opinion that bringing players in to challenge in every position is the way to improve his existing squad members.
“His wages are understood to exceed Newcastle’s top earner, which could be another problem for United – whose spending power in the summer would increase off the back of the TV deal even if Mike Ashley remained but not suddenly place them in the biggest spender bracket.
“Although United’s priorities to strengthen would be up front and in attacking, creative positions Benitez would like to bring in full-backs. Moves for Kenedy and Dubravka – they have an option to sign him – are also being considered.”
Dubravka looks all but done and should be an easy one to wrap up, however permanent deals for Shaw and Kenedy could be both difficult and expensive – although it’s good to hear Benitez is making plans already.
Whether Mike Ashley will be willing to sanction these moves (or even be in charge come the summer) is another matter, but they’d certainly be three very good signing to see at St James’ Park.
