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Rafa Benitez gets tough on moving on unwanted players – Sends them to train with kids

7 years ago
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Rafa Benitez is attempting to push on the transfer process according to reports on Wednesday morning.

As fans and Rafa still wait for the essential better quality signings to arrive, the manager is helping the process along by encouraging a number of senior players to look harder at moving on elsewhere.

The United boss had previously made clear he has to move on a number of players, both to raise extra transfer cash and to help create room for his own Premier League level signings to come in.

The Chronicle report that now Tim Krul, Achraf Lazaar and Henri Saivet have been sent to train with the kids, with Emmanuel Riviere set to join them as well.

This is of course only the tip of the iceberg, with all but a small number of players up for sale and on their way if a buyer can be found.

The main worry being that Mike Ashley will be insisting that Lee Charnley gives the go ahead for sales only if a certain level of offer comes in, which potentially makes it difficult/impossible to move them on.

Likewise, with the money many of the unwanted players are on at St James Park, it can be a disincentive to agree to another club on potentially lower wages.

So sending players to train with the kids may help to concentrate the mind…

With only 25 senior players (plus those deemed to be Under 21s) able to be named in Premier League squads, Newcastle would need to shed at least half a dozen current players to make room for even a couple of new players.

In reality of course, Rafa Benitez would be happy to see far more players exit St James Park.

Here is a full team of current players who I think it is clear are available for any buyer:

Tim Krul

Karl Darlow

Jesus Gamez

Chancel Mbemba

Grant Hanley

Massadio Haidara

Jack Colback

Henri Saivet

Siem de Jong

Emmanuel Riviere

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Obviously it is a bit of a radical team selection containing two goalkeepers…but clearly neither Krul or Darlow have a future at the club.

At a rough calculation this lot above cost over £50m but what could Newcastle realistically back for all eleven?

The hope must surely be that at least six or seven of these players will be found new homes and the sooner the better for all concerned, especially if we are to see Rafa being able to move on the process of bringing in his targets.

(All contributions from Newcastle fans welcome, send articles (as well as ideas/suggestions) to contribute@themag.co.uk)

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