Lee Ryder has revealed that the club would like to make a big-money move for Joelinton this summer – despite the fact Rafa Benitez is not sold on a “£30-£40m” move for the Brazilian.
The Hoffenheim star has been mentioned as a player on our radar for several months now, and the Chronicle have even claimed that the club would be willing to sanction a club-record move for the striker.
In all of this, it’s said that Rafa Benitez thinks the 22-year-old is a ‘decent player’, but would far rather use this money elsewhere, no doubt feeling £40m (a large chunk of his potential budget) could be used to strengthen the squad with two £20m players.
To me, this sums up Rafa Benitez’s power struggle at Newcastle United.
He spends months trying to convince Mike Ashley to shell out around £20m on ‘top target’ Mike Ashley, yet a potential £40m deal for Joelinton is being eyed up by the club – no doubt because they see huge sell on potential should he be a hit in the Premier League.
Just listen to this below, with Lee Ryder’s comments making you wonder just what Rafa has to deal with under this current regime:
“I keep a very close eye on the Joelinton situation at Hoffenheim because, as a club – and this is just my interpretation from what I’ve been told – I think Newcastle would like to sign Joelinton.
“There seems to be some kind of package, whether it’s staggered payments or what I’m not entirely sure, but there seems to be some structure available if they want to sign Joelinton.
“Rafa, while he thinks Joelinton is a decent player, he’s thinking that money could be pooled somewhere else to sign a different striker, or a different midfielder, or whatever his plans are.
“I think regardless of whether Rafa stays or not, the head of recruitment Steve Nickson has got a list of players. I know fine well that he has been on scouting missions in the last two or three weeks, so Newcastle are still looking at players.
So, if I’m reading this correctly, it seems there’s plenty of people at Newcastle United who seem to think they know better then Rafa Benitez when it comes to the footballing side of things.
If it comes to a situation where non-footballing people have power over an absolute expert in Rafa Benitez in the transfer market then he really is fighting a losing battle.
It was reported not long ago that the club would only sanction deals ‘as they see fit’, opposed to giving Benitez a designated budget and allowing him to spend it as he wishes, however it seems it’s one rule for them and another for Rafa if this bizarre Joelinton pursuit is anything to go by.
its alright him playing well in a Mickey mouse league but the prems a different kettle of fish
John Jamieson(Quote)
The Ronny Gill and yourself know nothing of what’s going on behind those closed doors so why speculate??
Thumper(Quote)
“He spends months trying to convince Mike Ashley to shell out around £20m on ‘top target’ Mike Ashley,…..”
I’m fairly sure the article would have read better if one of those Mike Ashleys was a Miguel Almiron
Briiian(Quote)