According to The Telegraph, ‘generous contracts’ handed to a host of Rafa Benitez signings have left Newcastle struggling to move them on so far this summer.
This comes from Luke Edwards, who reports that we’ve been unable to find buyers for fringe men DeAndre Yedlin, Christian Atsu, Yoshinori Muto, Jacob Murphy and Achraf Lazaar due to their wage demands.
It seems Steve Bruce may have had a change of heart regarding Jacob Murphy, with him catching the eye over pre-season, but several other outcasts and rarely-seen squad men are currently on money potential buyers couldn’t afford to pay them.
For example, it’s believed the likes of Achraf Lazaar is on £35,000 per week – despite ZERO appearances over the past two years – while Japanese international Yoshinori Muto is on over £50,000, according to The Chronicle.
As for Christian Atsu, it’s believed Celtic are interested in signing the Ghanaian, but it remains to be seen if they could match the salary he currently earns at St James’ Park.
Because of this, it would be no surprise if the likes of him, Aarons, Lazaar and Saivet all left on a free next summer when their contracts expire – and not for a fee over the next few weeks.
With us set to have spent £35m – Bruce’s entire budget if reports are to be believed – on three players this week once Jamal Lewis joins Wilson and Fraser on Tyneside, outgoings could be key over the remainder of the window if we’re to continue our spending streak.
Let’s hope buyers arrive for Benitez’s buys or they agree to take a wage cut in search of first-team football!
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They may have been signed when Rafa was manager but I doubt they were Rafa’s signings and he definitely had nothing to do with negotiating their contracts and wages, I would lay that at Charnley’s door.
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