Rafael Benítez intends to initiate an internal inquiry into the deficiencies that undermined the January transfer window activity at Newcastle United.
Although Benítez ended up with three loan signings – the Leicester City striker Islam Slimani, the Sparta Prague goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and the Chelsea winger Kenedy – the first two were signed only shortly before the 11pm transfer deadline last Wednesday and much hard work appeared wasted.
Newcastle’s manager, and his staff, identified and completed due diligence on 50 attacking targets alone. Yet with Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, ignoring Benítez’s pleas to recruit players in early January, they could have been forgiven for fearing it was a futile exercise.
Asked if change, and increased professionalism at boardroom level, were imperative and integral to his future on Tyneside, the Spaniard’s reply proved instructive.
“That’s another debate for the future, an internal debate. We have plenty of time to talk about those things,” said Benítez, whose immediate priority is avoiding relegation. “There’s a time when you have to say something.”
For the moment he intends to concentrate on “improving” his existing squad but a reasoned debate, the outcome of which could determine whether Benítez stays or leaves this summer, is looming.
“We’re a little bit better than a few days ago,” he said. “I don’t want to start a war, I need to be sure the players are concentrated on getting the points to stay up. I won’t start a polemic. It’s not a question of ’I’m happy, I’m not happy.’ Is it ideal? I won’t say if it’s ideal or not.”
With major doubts surrounding Amanda Staveley’s credibility as a serious potential buyer of Newcastle and her long mooted takeover apparently off the agenda, it seems Benítez and Ashley are stuck with each other.
Accordingly Benítez has urged the fans, at least temporarily, to forget their grievances with the owner. “If we stay in the Premier League, we’ll be 100% stronger next season,” he said. “We have to be sure our players feel the fans’ support. If we want to stay in the Premier League, we have to make sure the atmosphere is good.”
