Rafa Benitez will reportedly ask Mike Ashley for a transfer budget of £70million to bolster the Newcastle United squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The Magpies secured an immediate return to the top flight of English football with a 4-1 victory over Preston North End last month and go into the final game of the season against Barnsley this weekend with a chance to claim the Championship title.
According to the Telegraph, the Spanish tactician is already looking ahead to the summer and will meet with the club’s owner once the campaign is finished to discuss how they can move forward and is expected to ask for improvements to the squad to be made.
Furthermore, the report states that Benitez is expecting to make up to eight new signings with Everton’s James McCarthy at the top of his list despite the fact that the Republic of Ireland international has endured a frustrating season with injuries.
With United battling against relegation from the Premier League twice before eventually going down last season, Benitez wants assurance that Ashley’s ambition matches his own in the long term and has no interest in staying if financial restrictions mean the club’s only priority is to survive next season.
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