According to The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas, Rafa Benitez has identified Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek as an ‘ideal’ January signing – however the attacking midfielder will only arrive if Newcastle spend big to secure him on a permanent deal.
Why? Because we have now used up all of our domestic loan deals (two in Rondon and Kenedy), with us also being unable to loan two players from Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek seemed out of our reach over the summer after impressing at the World Cup with England, however he ended up staying at Stamford Bridge – and may well be regretting it after failing to start a single league game so far this season.
Here’s what The Chronicle have had to say on our interest, claiming that he is the sort of quality player Benitez ‘craves’ – but would only arrive if Ashley sanctioned a ‘eye-watering permanent deal’:
“His ideal capture in the January transfer window would be Ruben Loftus-Cheek but with his domestic loans all used up – and Chelsea’s Kenedy already on board – it would have to be an eye-watering permanent deal to get that one over the line.
“But it is indicative of the sort of quality Benitez craves – and the kind of backing he is looking for.”
Given the lack of options and the lack of quality we have available to us in attacking midfielder areas, Loftus Cheek would be a superb signing, however I really can’t see us pulling this one off.
A loan deal would’ve been ideal, but that options no possible, it would take a HUGE bid to sign him permanently – and I’m not even sure if Chelsea would be willing to let him go for good.
Our only loan left is one from overseas, so I expect that to be used up instead, with any money available likely to go on a striker.
One way around this would be to sign Kenedy on a permanent deal, freeing up space to loan RLC from Chelsea. The obvious fly in the ointment is that despite his poor form for us so far Chelsea would likely still want a huge fee for him.
Agree we’d be most likely to get a cheapie or loan signing from overseas even though there are rumours of Ashley sanctioning a spending spree.
CSH(Quote)
You couldn’t make this **** up; hang on, you just did. As usual, gutter journalism, this deal will NOT happen.
Joe Soap(Quote)
I don’t think he will come so far north…..
BillyTheFish(Quote)
Presume this is aimed at the reporter from The Chronicle? I’m just sharing what he’s said.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Firstly if fat Mike doesn’t own a helicopter he should buy one that can help us , also 2 players that we need to look at signing in January is Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater . Lastly Rafa needs to change his style upfront and play two strikers
Sanjay(Quote)