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Rafa Benitez admits Newcastle targeting one position in January transfer market

7 years ago
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Rafa Benitez has revealed that he is targeting one particular position in his team once the January transfer window opens.

The Newcastle Manager indicates that they are looking at a number of options as to who to try and buy for this specific role in his team.

However, Rafa says there won’t be any panic ‘if we don’t find the right player’, only that they are trying to ‘improve the squad’.

As to what this particular position is, that’s the 64 dollar question.

I think by far the most likely role in the Newcastle team that is in need of strengthening, is somebody to play with Dwight Gayle.

Rafa Benitez has made clear that he won’t be playing another out and out striker with the Championship’s top scorer, meaning the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy are simply back-ups.

Whilst the use of Perez and Diame, who have shared the role, playing in behind Dwight Gayle has been the biggest weakness in the team. Making 28 appearances between them (including from the bench), they have scored only three goals between them and I struggle to think of many chances either of them have created.

Mohamed Diame himself, has said he has played poorly since joining from Hull, whilst Ayoze Perez flatters to deceive with only very occasional glimpses of quality amongst the poor to average performances.

Rafa Benitez:

“If we have to bring somebody in, we have to keep it in our heads that we will lose maybe four players for the African Cup of Nations.

“We are looking for players in a certain position.

“I have analysed with the staff and we can manage if we don’t find the right player – but obviously we will try to improve the squad.”

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