Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Tuesday, January 16.
Magpies manager Rafa Benitez again went on the record over the need for additions to his squad over the weekend.
Benitez doesn't know his budget and we will have the latest on his loan enquiries. Mike Ashley has returned to the UK so there will be a hope that pushes things along.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Newcastle were held to a 1-1 draw with Swansea on Saturday, and we will have all of the fallout and reaction to that result.
We'll have the latest on the takeover and also all of the January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up.
As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.
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Newcastle United 1-1 Swansea City
Key Events
Time to get creative, Rafa?
Mick Quinn’s latest column offers some solutions to Newcastle’s transfer headache...
NUFC have the worst run in
A reminder of why it is SO important Newcastle bring in some reinforcements in the next fortnight.
Will Rafa park the bus against Man City?
Our team discuss...
Premier League darts in Newcastle
One for darts fans.... What a line-up!
This week's podcast
Plenty was discussed...
Sergio Aguero in numbers vs NUFC
Per City’s website:
Aguero has so far bagged 11 goals in 11 games against the north-east outfit and will be hoping to add to the tally on Saturday when Rafa Benitez’s side visit the Etihad.
His goal-per-game record is all the more impressive given his average minutes on the pitch during his 11 appearances is 59.73 minutes.
He’s also directly been involved in 14 goals, having made two assists and also providing the pass that led to an assist.
Ashley could be haunted by past mistakes
A snippet from yesterday’s podcast...
Conte planning to rotate tomorrow
Hope for NUFC in the FA Cup? Full story...
Diafra Sakho pushing for move away from West Ham
This from the Daily Mail, who claim Newcastle, Swansea or West Brom are interested.
They report:
Apart from Diafra Sakho, David Moyes has little desire to let any players leave without lining up replacements first. His priority is to add midfielders and at least one defender.
Sakho is pushing for a move away to Newcastle, Swanseas or West Brom as a move to Crystal Palace remains at an impasse.
NUFC linked with Galatasaray star
The Mail claim Newcastle are in for Papa Babou Ndiaye. Although, given NUFC’s limited finances, it may be a bit of a non-starter.
They claim:
Rafa Benitez will have to persuade owner Mike Ashley to cough up £18million to land midfield target Papa Babou Ndiaye from Galatasaray.
That is the buy-out clause for the 27-year-old Senegal international that will mean his Turkish club are powerless to stop him moving to the Premier League.
Watford, Crystal Palace and Stoke have also been watching Ndiaye.
Giroud to Dortmund?
Reports in Germany, Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud could be used as a makeweight in Arsenal’s bid to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to the report, Dortmund are reluctant to see Aubameyang go, and are looking for a figure of around £60 million from Arsenal to make the transfer happen.
Giroud was tenuously linked to Newcastle in the summer, but now it appears he could hold the key to Aubameyang’s switch to Arsenal.
Besiktas reportedly close to loan move for Hernandez
Newcastle were linked with West Ham forward Javier Hernandez last week but Turkish newspaper, Gunes, claim he is close to securing a loan move to Turkish champions Besiktas.
Hernandez only joined the Hammers in the summer, but the report says Besiktas have been in ‘constant contact’ with West Ham about the Mexican.
Besiktas are said to be growing increasingly confident of landing Hernandez, and will pay a loan fee of £1.8 million to land him on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Norwich fielding strong side tomorrow
Can they cause an upset tomorrow at Stamford Bridge?
Here is what Canaries boss Daniel Farke said at today’s press conference:
“We will try to bring a really strong squad onto the field. To repeat such a performance against a giant for a third time would be outstanding.
“You always have a chance. I don’t want to speak too much about our plan as Chelsea will be watching!
“We want to surprise Chelsea a bit. We will see if it works.
“We have to be brave in our pressing and in possession. That’s what we will try to do.”
Conte will play young team tomorrow
This *could* be good news for Newcastle...
Tomorrow is another game in a busy period for us. I have to make many changes. We have to play against Brighton after two days. This is the great risk to make rotation, a lot of rotation. If you want to face and try to go to the next round in every competition this is the only way we can do. Tomorrow we want to try to win, the best way to win and for sure we are making many rotations like the first game and we want to go to the next round.
First of all the young player has to deserve the chance. Not just because they are academy and young. For this reason Ampadu has deserved this chance and will probably play tomorrow. He has deserved the opportunity and taken his chance.
NUFC boss gets 'green light' to buy three
From the Press Association and their reliable reporter Damian Spellman.
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has been given the go-ahead to bring in up to three new signings to help in the fight for Premier League survival.
Press Association Sport understands that owner Mike Ashley has sanctioned the move having accepted the Spaniard’s argument that he needs further help if he is to keep the club in the top flight and secure another instalment of the riches that would bring.
However, it is understood that Benitez and managing director Lee Charnley will have limited funds with which to work as they step up their ongoing efforts to bolster a squad which was left short during the summer transfer window.
The manager drew up a series of targets some time ago and hoped to have new additions in place by this Saturday, although with the January market proving as difficult as ever, progress has been painfully slow.
Efforts to tie up a loan deal for Chelsea youngster Kenedy have been held up at the Stamford Bridge end, while Liverpool striker Danny Ings has indicated he would prefer to stay at Anfield and fight for his place after his return to fitness.
With time fast running down, Newcastle will hope for movement on one or both fronts, while at the same time turning their attention to alternatives. Benitez could boost his pot and free up wages by offloading current members of his squad with Jack Colback and Henri Saivet among those considered surplus to requirements.
However, he has insisted he has no plans to sell any player currently playing amid speculation over the futures of Chancel Mbemba, Jonjo Shelvey and Christian Atsu.
Ashley has made his move with the Magpies sitting in 15th place in the table with 23 points from as many games and just three clear of the drop zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to leaders Manchester City.
His hopes of selling the club by Christmas are now a distant memory and while the channels of communication with Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners remain open, sources on Tyneside were mystified on Tuesday by claims that an improved offer had been made.
With little prospect of a swift breakthrough, the sportswear magnate has given Charnley, the man who does the deals, the green light to strengthen in a bid to protect his investment, and the success or otherwise of his mission over the next fortnight or so could prove critical.
Conte coy on Batshuayi's future
The Chelsea forward has been linked with NUFC but has been linked with a loan move to Sevilla. Nonetheless, he will play tomorrow.
He is Chelsea’s player and he is in our squad. Tomorrow he has to play. I think this is the truth until now. He is a Chelsea player and is having the possibility to show that he can play for Chelsea. This is the reality, in the future I don’t know what will happen.
Conte taking Norwich seriously
He said:
I think this game is an important game, it is a good chance to continue to keep the clean sheet and then to try to win the game and score and go to the next round. As you know this type of game is very difficult and we have to pay great attention to try to win the game.
Chelsea trio unavailable for Cup replay
Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas are unavailable through injury. Ross Barkley won’t be in the squad.
Pepe Reina to Newcastle?
Unlikely, admits Rafa Benitez.
Man City referee confirmed
Paul Tierney will be the man in the middle on Saturday.
Fulham still want Dwight Gayle
And they are willing to sell Tom Cairney to fund the deal. Chris Waugh with the latest...
Souare deal would put Kenedy loan in doubt
Newcastle’s interest in Palace’s Pape Souare is because Chelsea are dragging their heels over the Kenedy deal.
Rafa Benitez is keen to add reinforcements to the left hand side of the pitch, with Kenedy his preferred option. The young Brazilian is capable of playing left-back, wing, and as a wing-back.
However, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is refusing to allow any player to leave until he replaces them, similar to how he left Newcastle in limbo in the summer.
Rafa is not willing to let that result in him not securing someone in that position this month, which is why he is now looking at Pape Souare.
There would be nothing stopping Newcastle getting both, but remember only two players can arrive from other Premier League clubs which would then rule out any potential move for other targets such as Danny Ings. Rafa would instead have to look abroad for a striker to bring in on loan, as well as any other positions he wishes to strengthen.
Ben Arfa turned down Bordeaux move this month
According to reports in France, Ben Arfa rejected the chance to join Bordeaux this month.
Struggling at PSG, the ex-Newcastle star could be on the move this month, but turned down the advances of Jocelyn Gourvennec, according to France Football.
Jenas on Newcastle's current predicament
Sadly, it’s hard to disagree with him...
Win tickets to Palace game
Competition from the club’s sponsors Fun888
Premier League free transfers
Could any of these players be an option for Newcastle?
Everton close in on Walcott - medical today
According to the Mirror Theo Walcott is closing in on a move to Everton.
The England and Arsenal winger is reportedly on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical.
Goal of the Day
A great goal in a derby game that ended 1-1 thanks to a late Asamoah Gyan equaliser...
Keegan returned, ten years ago today
Wow! ten years ago! King Kev came back to Toon for a third time for his second spell as manager. Shame how it end with the current regime letting him down, but still this day was a very exciting one...
Rafa tells Spanish paper he won't be signing Pepe Reina
Rafa is claimed to have told Mundo Deportivo that he has ‘no intentions’ of signing Pepe Reina this month.
Benitez is claimed to have described their relationship as ‘a close bond’, but says Reina, who’s made 25 appearances for Napoli this term, is considered too important for his current side to let him go.
