Rafa Benitez admits Newcastle tried to sign players that joined their Premier League rivals in summer but club 'couldn't pay the wages that they paid'

  • Rafa Benitez's Newcastle have lost four Premier League matches on the spin
  • Benitez warned after the transfer window shut that his squad was short
  • £5m striker Joselu still leads the line despite scoring just twice this term
  • The Magpies face trips to West Brom and Chelsea in the league this week 

Rafa Benitez says he looks around the Premier League and sees players in rival teams who he wanted to sign but could not afford - and that is why Newcastle have lost four matches on the spin.

The Spaniard warned after the closure of the transfer window that his squad was short in several areas and £5million striker Joselu continues to lead the line despite scoring just twice this term.

They did, however, make a good start to the season and were sixth in the table as recently as last month.

Rafa Benitez has warned Newcastle fans that their form could get worse before it gets better

Rafa Benitez has warned Newcastle fans that their form could get worse before it gets better

Newcastle have lost their last four Premier League matches and currently sit 14th in the table

Newcastle have lost their last four Premier League matches and currently sit 14th in the table

The Magpies face trips to West Brom and Chelsea this week in the Premier League

The Magpies face trips to West Brom and Chelsea this week in the Premier League

But Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Watford has seen them slip to 14th with trips to West Brom and Chelsea to come this week, and Benitez says it could get worse before it gets better, especially as doubts remain over the proposed takeover of the club.


‘Our reality is if you want to buy a striker that scores 20 goals every year then you have to pay £40million,’ he said ahead of Tuesday’s game at The Hawthorns.

‘An average striker is £15m, £20m, or £25m. If he kicks the ball forward it's £15m, if he scores it's £25m. We didn't do that and that's it.

‘We need to know who we are, and where we are. You can lose against the top teams, we have to compete against Huddersfield, Brighton, or Burnley, but we couldn't sign players that they signed. We couldn't pay the wages that they paid, so that is what we have.

Rolando Aarons, Mohamed Diame and Ayoze Perez are put through their paces on Monday

Rolando Aarons, Mohamed Diame and Ayoze Perez are put through their paces on Monday

Newcastle were defeated 3-0 by Watford at St James' Park on Saturday in the Premier League

Newcastle were defeated 3-0 by Watford at St James' Park on Saturday in the Premier League

Rob Elliot will be hoping for a better day in the Newcastle goal against West Brom on Tuesday

Rob Elliot will be hoping for a better day in the Newcastle goal against West Brom on Tuesday

‘I can tell you a couple of players in each team that maybe we could have signed, but we couldn't pay the wages, or we couldn't pay the transfer fee, or whatever.'

He added: ‘We do not know what is going on (with the takeover) and what might happen in January. Our fans need to know it could be even worse. If we cannot sign anybody, what can we do? We have to stick together. I am telling the players to keep going and keep working hard. Until the end of the season, we have to do what we have to do.

‘What is our target? To stay in the Premier League. Nobody said it would be easy. I have confidence. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose.

‘That is a message for our fans - we have to support our team, we have to support our players, so stick together.’

Jonjo Shelvey trains with his Newcastle team-mates on the eve of the clash with West Brom

Jonjo Shelvey trains with his Newcastle team-mates on the eve of the clash with West Brom

£5m striker Joselu continues to lead the line for Newcastle despite netting just twice this term

£5m striker Joselu continues to lead the line for Newcastle despite netting just twice this term

 

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