Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez left livid after failing to sign a single player on transfer deadline day
The Toon chief failed to bolster his side for the new campaign after missing out on a number of top targets
RAFA BENITEZ was left livid last night after Newcastle failed to sign a single player on deadline day.
The Toon boss was hoping to bring in at least a left-back and striker on the last day of the transfer window.
But approaches for Chelsea’s Kenedy, Southampton’s Matt Targett, Liverpool’s Divock Origi and Arsenal’s Lucas Perez all came to nothing.
And that was despite Benitez freeing up the wage bill by letting a string of fringe players leave.
The Spaniard has not been impressed with Newcastle’s transfer business this summer and yesterday’s inactivity will have only angered him further.
Magpies managing director Lee Charnley came up to visit Benitez, who had returned from a UEFA elite club coaches forum in Nyon, at the Toon training ground yesterday afternoon.
But their meeting was only brief and both soon went their separate ways.
Benitez currently has no intention of walking away from his job at St James’ Park, especially as the terms of his contract state he would have to pay £5million – a year’s salary - in compensation.
But his relationship with owner Mike Ashley and Charnley is sure to have taken another nosedive.
And the worry is that if West Ham choose to sack Slavin Bilic, Benitez could be tempted by the London Stadium hotseat.
Newcastle have made six signings this summer at a cost of £36.4million – far less than Benitez was hoping to spend.
He was desperate for a left-back with Paul Dummett out injured until October and centre-half Chancel Mbemba currently filling in.
But Chelsea would not let Kenedy leave on loan, and Newcastle chose not to pursue Saints youngster Targett despite making an enquiry yesterday morning.
Benitez also wanted a new hitman, and was even willing to sell last season’s top scorer Dwight Gayle if they could find a replacement, with Fulham tabling a £15m bid.
