Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez ready to put transfer frustrations aside and focus on Premier League survival

  • Newcastle United: All the latest from St James' Park
  • Rafa Benitez has made no secret of his displeasure at the club's lack of activity
  • The Spaniard has seen the club fail to secure several of his top summer targets
  • But Benitez is committed to keeping Newcastle in the Premier League regardless

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has vowed to battle through his transfer window frustration to tackle life in the Premier League head-on.

The Spaniard, who guided the Magpies back into the top flight by winning the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt last season, has endured a difficult summer which has seen the club miss out on several of his main transfer targets amid sky-high fees and spiralling wages.

He has made no secret of his displeasure, admitting in a television interview earlier this week that he is unhappy with how things have gone so far.

Rafa Benitez says he remains frustrated with the lack of transfer but is committed to Newcastle

Rafa Benitez says he remains frustrated with the lack of transfer but is committed to Newcastle

However, while remaining hopeful of further additions before the end of the month - he said negotiations were progressing amid links with Chelsea midfielder Kenedy and Arsenal striker Lucas Perez - he has re-affirmed his commitment to the club despite his disappointment.


Benitez, who sends his side into battle with Tottenham on Sunday, said: 'Obviously, I said how I feel during this summer, but at the same time, I said that my commitment is 100 per cent with this team, this club in terms of trying to win from the first game until the last one.

Benitez admits Newcastle will simply not be in the market for players in the £25m-plus bracket

Benitez admits Newcastle will simply not be in the market for players in the £25m-plus bracket

NEWCASTLE ARRIVALS 

Jacob Murphy (Norwich City, £12m)

Florian Lejeune (Eibar, £8.7m)

Christian Atsu (Chelsea, £6.2m)

Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, undisclosed)

Stefan O'Connor (Arsenal, free)

Josef Yarney (Everton, free)

Mikel Merino (Borussia Dortmund, loan)

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'My ambition is to do well in every single game to get three points and see where we are in the table.

'I am not saying I am really pleased with everything because it's not true, but I am not saying that I will not do my best to be as high as possible in the table.'

Benitez admitted Newcastle will simply not be in the market for players in the £25million-plus bracket, but confirmed the club will attempt to use the loan market wisely during the remaining weeks of the window to bolster a squad he feels still needs significant re-shaping.

Asked if the current crop will be competitive, he said: 'I am really pleased with the group of players that I have because last year, they did a great job. If you remember, everyone was praising our transfer window because we made the signings that we had to make for being in the Championship and to win the Championship.

'After we made a £30million profit, everybody was fine. Now we need to bring in players with experience for the Premier League.

'We have the players that we have and they did a really, really fantastic job last year. Now we will try to improve the squad, to improve the team as much as we can.

'But if not, these players have done a great job and hopefully because they are together and they know what we want, they can do a job also in the Premier League.' 

Jacob Murphy (left) remains Newcastle's most prominent summer arrival in a £12m deal

Jacob Murphy (left) remains Newcastle's most prominent summer arrival in a £12m deal