Rafa Benitez and Mike Ashley have held a last-gasp phone conversation in a desperate bid to salvage Newcastle United’s wretched January transfer window.
The Magpies manager and the Sports Direct businessman spoke on Tuesday morning as Benitez tried to stress the gravity of the situation to Ashley.
Newcastle were pipped to the loan signing of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on Monday, while United also failed to lure top target Nicolai Jorgensen to Tyneside as they failed to match Feyenoord’s £20million valuation, meaning the Magpies are yet to sign a forward this month.
Kenedy, who eventually completed a protracted loan move last week, is United’s only January signing to far and, with less than 24 hours left in the window, Benitez has once again made clear to Ashley that further additions must arrive if United are to ensure they retain their Premier League status.
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley (Image: Getty Images Europe)
But Newcastle have just about exhausted their initial list of January targets, with the Magpies now frantically scouring Europe for a striker who they believe can bring goals to a side who have managed just 22 in 24 Premier League games.
The Magpies host Burnley at St James’ Park in a crucial Premier League clash on Wednesday evening, while the deadline for the January window is also at 11pm.
“We were talking about different options [in the transfer market], that’s it,” Benitez said of his conversation with Ashley during his pre-Burnley Press conference.
“We have been talking about everything. It has been one month with our targets, so we had plenty of targets to talk about.
“We have to do something before the end and then that’s it. Obviously everybody would like to see players early, but they are not here so we will try to do something in one day.
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“Any player, if it’s a good player, will make an impact and bring something.”
Earlier this month Benitez claimed that Ashley had given him the “green light” to make signings, but only Kenedy has arrived since.
Asked if he was more positive about United’s chances of recruiting further additions after his latest conversation with Ashley, Benitez said rather pointedly: “Similar [to before].”
Pushed as to whether his relationship with the owner is improving, given that the pair have spoken three times inside a month, Benitez replied: “Good question. No, it is fine. We have to talk, it is the way they like to do things.”
Red Star Belgrade striker Richmond Boakye is being considered as a late striker option for Newcastle, though there are doubts over whether the Ghanaian would receive a work permit, with the Magpies quoted £4m for the forward according to sources in Serbia.
Newcastle knew all along that Feyenoord wanted £20m for Jorgensen, and privately it is believed that Benitez views this as the going rate in the current inflated transfer market.
And the Spaniard was keen to defend his record in the transfer market throughout his career, stressing that he will never pay over the odds for a player - or ask a club to stretch beyond their financial means.
“In every single club I have been, normally I finish with profit, success and titles. Or at least not creating a problem for the books,” Benitez replied when asked if he understood why the club would not pay an inflated price for a player.
“I understand what is going on in the market and I will try to find players early at the right price. If a player is too much I will not say: ‘Go for this one.’
“But, in this case, in this time, it has not been the case.”
While Newcastle’s relegation rivals such as Southampton, Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United have spent money to improve their squads this month, the Magpies have taken a more frugal approach so far.
Benitez, interestingly, admitted that Newcastle could do “things in another way” in the transfer market, suggesting the Magpies should have done their business earlier.
“Each club has their own way to do business,” he said.
“I think we can do things in another way but it’s just where we are now. It’s Burnley [next], that’s the main thing.”