Rafa Benitez has dropped a big hint that he will carry on regardless at Newcastle United - despite the club staggering towards an unsatisfactory conclusion to the January window.
The Newcastle boss insisted that he hadn’t given up hope on bringing in a new striker and while the Magpies have been offered a host of strikers by agents, Benitez doesn’t want to sign anybody who wasn’t on his shortlist - or bring in a player just for the sake of it.
But Benitez will push for deals on players from the list that he submitted to managing director Lee Charnley on January 1.
Rafa Benitez (Image: Getty Images Europe)
United also remain in talks to sign a third-choice goalkeeper as they look to loan out Freddie Woodman, with Aberdeen one of the clubs interested in the young shot-stopper, but Benitez admitted that he had no choice but to rally his troops for the crunch clash with Burnley at St James’ Park.
He said: “We are in the bottom half of the table.
“We know it will be tough competing against teams that are spending a lot of money.
“But we can still compete, and we will try to with the players we have at the moment.”
Benitez’s tone was a little downbeat compared to normal but it is clear that the long winter window has taken its toll on not just the Toon boss, but other managers in the Premier League.
Benitez said: “A lot of managers agree that the window should close before the game.
Rafa Benitez talks to the media (Image: Newcastle United)
“It would be easier for us to concentrate on the game and our jobs. But it’s like that.
“Now every game - of the last 14 - is the most important and at the moment this one is the most important of all.”
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Benitez also has the unwanted distraction of some of his squad members wanting moves and clubs dragging their feet when it comes to making a reasonable offer.
For instance , Aleksandar Mitrovic is wanted by Anderlecht and has been told they are ready to take him back but the price isn’t right at the moment for the Magpies.
This has resulted in Mitrovic being left out of the last couple of squads as the coaching team don’t feel he is focused enough.
Newcastle United's Aleksander Mitrovic (Image: PA)
Benitez said: “We’re working on a lot of things but the players are training and some of them know their future may go one way or another.
“But the other players are in the squad and concentrating on the game.”
Benitez feels Newcastle are still making positive steps in the Premier League’s battle for survival and despite not being backed the Magpies are still within swinging distance of the top 10.
He said: “We were doing our jobs before. Now we are waiting to see what will happen in the next day but especially we want to concentrate on the game.”
The United manager was asked if he felt he had been backed enough this season but simply answered: “It wouldn’t change anything for the game tomorrow.
“What we have is an important game against Burnley.
“I won’t talk about the transfer window I will concentrate on an important game and try to be sure we are focused and we don’t lose.”