According to reports in The Mirror, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is ready to demand a January transfer budget of £20m in order to help get the team club out of the current slump they are in.
What’s the word, then?
Well, despite making a decent start to the season the Magpies have taken just one point from the last 18 available in the Premier League to leave them just three places and five points above the relegation zone.
The Mirror says that Benitez is unsettled by the poor run of form and he reckons he will need £20m in the New Year to buy a new striker, No 10 and left-back having been given £70m to spend before the previous summer transfer window for then, January and next summer.
However, The Mirror says that a proposed takeover is stopping Benitez committing to deals just yet as he could perhaps have a bigger budget to work with, although wages are still an issue.
How much trouble are Newcastle in?
While they were impressive earlier on in the campaign, they have hit a real low point right now.
The defeats away against Manchester United and Chelsea were understandable, but home defeats without scoring against Watford and Bournemouth were particularly disappointing, while they were also beaten 1-0 against Burnley at Turf Moor.
14 goals in 15 Premier League matches this season points to where one of their main problems is, and with Joselu and Dwight Gayle struggling for goals and Aleksandar Mitrovic out of favour it seems a need for a striker is especially paramount.
Would £20m really be enough?
In this day and age and if Newcastle are looking for players with real quality than can make a difference, you would think not.
While Benitez could choose to sell someone like Mitrovic to raise funds, if he doesn’t and just has £20m to spend then it would be difficult to see him get a good quality striker, No 10 and left-back on permanent deals.
The Spaniard may well be relying on loans in that case, and those would do little to ease the worries of Newcastle fans who will certainly be concerned about relegation based on recent results.
