Tag: Miguel Almiron

Rafael Benitez talks about Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has said that the club need to improve across the different departments in the summer in order to compete higher up the table. The Magpies recently sprung a surprise 1-0 result against Leicester City on the road and this has put them in a strong position to beat the Premier League drop.

Speaking after the game, Benitez said that the Magpies are not capable of competing for the Premier League crown with the reduced budget on offer. However, the Spaniard added that he would like sufficient fees during the summer which would enhance the club’s prospects of finishing as the best of the rest.

He said: “I have been trying to win titles everywhere in different countries and what I have said before is we have to have a team that can compete. So you cannot go with a team that maybe you can win but you think ‘If it’s a draw it’s a good result’. We need to be stronger. You have the city, we have all the potential. Everyone in Newcastle is supporting the team so it’s massive. Doing a little bit – I don’t say spending £200M – I say a little bit more, doing the right things we can compete against the teams who are between 7th and 12th but we have to do things right.”

At present, Benitez is contracted with the Magpies until the end of the season but he has confirmed that talks are already underway over a contract extension. The lack of spending in the transfer market has been a cause for concern for Benitez in the past, but owner Mike Ashley has shown better intent of late with the club-record signing of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United in January. More of the same for the summer could convince Benitez to pen an extension with the Tyneside outfit. Newcastle are currently 10 points ahead of the drop zone. They are scheduled to host Southampton at St James Park this weekend.

Rafael Benitez pleased with Miguel Almiron’s full debut for Newcastle United

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has spoken positively about Miguel Almiron after the attacker dazzled during the club’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town this weekend. The Paraguay international made his full debut against the Terriers and he put on a show which earned him the praise of the club’s faithful.

Almiron could not contribute towards the club’s scoresheet on the day but he was still praised by the supporters after orchestrating the attack with as many as three shots on target. Following the game, Benitez was impressed with the showing of the club’s winter signing and sympathised that the forward could not score his maiden goal.

He said: “He did well. Obviously he’s a different kind of player with different characteristics and he is giving us another option so if you have to change something, you can make the difference with one player or another player, so it has been positive. It was a pity for him because he could have scored and it would have been even better. Yesterday when you were asking me, I knew that he was playing! I wanted to make a headline!”

The Magpies squandered a 1-0 advantage against Wolverhampton Wanderers during stoppage time in the previous gameweek and that certainly frustrated Benitez with the team fighting to beat the drop. However, there were no such concerns against free-falling Huddersfield for the weekend and goals from Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez ensured a routine triumph against an opposition, who were down to 10 men after just 20 minutes.

Next up, the Tyneside outfit have another home game against Burnley in midweek but the game should pose a stiffer challenge, given the form of the Clarets. Sean Dyche’s team are unbeaten in the Premier League since the turn of the year and the Magpies can expect strong opposition with Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes in good run of form.