Rafa Benitez back in for Pepe Reina as Newcastle boss counts on Mike Ashley to support transfer-window spree
BOSS Rafa Benitez will make a new move to sign Pepe Reina.
And Benitez is banking on Newcastle owner Mike Ashley being pushed into doing the deal.
Benitez has wanted his old Liverpool and Napoli keeper for months only to be frustrated.
But the Spaniard is counting on Ashley funding the move because of doubts about the coach’s future if he fails to keep him happy.
Benitez has told the Toon hierarchy he wants to spend his available funds on a No 1 plus a striker on loan.
Newcastle have roughly £10million to invest on a keeper and £100,000-a-week wages to offer the right scorer. But Benitez wants a little extra to secure Reina.
Napoli will hold out for more than £10m and Reina is also on a major salary.
But Benitez thinks he is worth the outlay.
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Ashley knows that his manager could walk if he is unsuccessful in signing players in this window.
The coach’s stock is high and he could find another job pretty quickly.
Newcastle’s chances of landing striker Danny Ings from Liverpool are rated at “10 per cent” by insiders, while West Ham would like to sell Diafra Sakho rather than lend him to Benitez.
Newcastle tried to throw Chancel Mbemba into a swap for Sakho, but David Moyes does not fancy the Congo defender.
Everton and Besiktas have shown an interest in Sakho, but Hammers want a fee.