Shay Given has called on the board to give Rafa Benitez the money he needs to strengthen the squad in the summer.
The former keeper says the manager was left looking for bargains last summer, but he needs the backing to get the club where it belongs.
He told Sky Sports’s Premier League Daily (quotes via the Chronicle):
“During my time at Newcastle, we were in the Champions League and challenging for the Premier League, that’s where that club belongs. So far he’s had to wheel and deal but you wish he had a bit more money to compete with the league’s big boys.”
Fans on Twitter are hoping for a takeover to happen rather than expecting any additional funds from Mike Ashley:
Ain’t gonna happen!
— Nigel Merriman (@nigel_merriman) April 4, 2018
Never mind spend I want him to sell
— Arron Gallagher (@_arrongallagher) April 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/moggy45/status/981482541810151424
This is the proverbial broken record isn’t it 😂
— Rob Salter (@RobSalter9) April 3, 2018
It’s about time he did sick of waiting waiting and waiting then end up disappointed or will he decide to sell the club to pcp with only 3 weeks left of the window so we can’t strengthen
— jaxx (@jaxx54226813) April 3, 2018
Don't want him to back the club! I want him to sell the club. He needs to go, nothing else. He's shown his colours and they're not black and white.
— wayne (@waynewonder81) April 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/celticlad19533/status/981183334805114880
Named my boy after him, great to see him showing an interest in nufc still wat a keeper and loyal too
— Shakka Vapes (@shakkavapes) April 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/Dixongenuous/status/981179948244254721
Verdict:
With the money from TV rights in the pocket, the club should be able to spend more on transfers in the summer even if the current ownership don’t sell up. However, there have been numerous broken promises in terms of a transfer budget in the past, and most don’t believe Rafa would be given the resources to compete if a takeover doesn’t happen.
Hopefully, if we do stay in the Premier League, there will be a number of suitors interested in buying the club to help us move forward.