Rafa Benitez reveals his transfer window worries

Rafa Benitez says it will be '˜impossible' to have his squad in place by the first game of the season '“ and has criticised how the transfer window remains open until the end of August.
Rafa BenitezRafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez

The Spaniard is busy looking at which players he can bring into his Newcastle United team to help them get promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Benitez admits he wants to get majority of signings done before the first game of the new Championship campaign on August 6.

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But with the transfer window not shutting for another four weeks after the season kicks off, he says the first month will be full of uncertainty.

Asked about getting his squad in place quickly, Benitez said: “It’s important, but almost impossible.

“You try to do it, but every year is the same.

“It’s not fair that you can be playing in August and then players can still go and come.

“For me, it would be better for the window to close at the start of August.

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“You could be working on set pieces with a player on August 6 and them on August 30 he is at another club and he knows all your set-pieces!

“The first month is difficult because you have players leaving.”

One player who could be on his way out of Newcastle before the window closes is Moussa Sissoko.

The Frenchman, away on Euro 16 duty with France, has admitted he wants to quit the Magpies this summer after relegation.

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Reports yesterday claimed Bundesliga side Hamburg had made a £9.5million bid for the midfielder, while Liverpool and Chelsea are also said to be monitoring the situation.

However, the Gazette understands no official bid has been made for the 26-year-old yet, and the player’s future is unlikely to be resolved until after Euro 16.