BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks is at a loss as to why Mike Ashley is not doing more to invest in Newcastle United this month.
Crooks has been consistent in his praise for manager Rafa Benitez and even suggested that given the right tools at his disposal following a takeover, he could guide the Magpies to the Premier League title.
For now, that is nothing more than a distant day-dream, as Newcastle continue to scrap for their Premier League lives.
Newcastle sit just one point above the relegation zone following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City and Rafa Benitez has spoken of the need to bring in new signings before the end of this month.
As takeover talk continues to stall, Ashley has given Benitez the ‘green light’ to sign new players, although how much funds are at Benitez’s disposal remains pretty vague.
Garth Crooks (Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)
Crooks believes Newcastle have a ‘fantastic’ manager, a ‘willing’ group of players and ‘fanatical’ support and he is perplexed as to why Ashley has not done more to build from that solid base.
After naming Sergio Aguero - who scored a hat-trick against United on Saturday - in his team of the week, Crooks told the BBC:“The Magpies are performing miracles on the pitch under Rafael Benitez but need reinforcements badly.
“Whether owner Mike Ashley decides to sell or keep Newcastle United will ultimately be his choice, but what he does have at the moment is a fantastic manager, a willing group of players and fanatical support.
“Are you telling me that is not worth investing in?”