Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez raging as Mike Ashley fails to bring in new faces

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Rafa Benitez is furious after Newcastle failed to sign a single player during the final fortnight of the transfer window.

The Spaniard expected arrivals after offloading high-earners Emmanuel Riviere, Siem de Jong, Grant Hanley and Tim Krul.

A loan move for Southampton left back Matt Targett collapsed on Thursday evening, while the club conceded defeat in their pursuit of Chelsea’s Kenedy. Benitez had also wanted a goalkeeper and striker.

Rafa Benitez is furious at Newcastle's failure to add to their squad on deadline day

The Spaniard believes that owner Mike Ashley has failed to come good on promises

He has signed off from the summer having spent around £40million on six players and he believes owner Mike Ashley has not come good on promises he made over investment in May.

Only last week Benitez said he was no longer thinking of his job as a long-term project. 

He is unlikely to quit — he would have to pay a year’s salary of £5m if he did — but there is the prospect of a club like West Ham offering to cover such a penalty should they want him.

Ashley does not want to lose Benitez but the club’s hierarchy are annoyed by the manager’s continued comments to the press. 

It will be interesting to see what Benitez says when he faces the media ahead of next weekend’s trip to Swansea.

A loan move for Southampton left back Matt Targett (right) collapsed on Thursday evening

Newcastle were forced to concede defeat in their efforts to sign Chelsea midfielder Kenedy