Rafa Benitez is in the process of rebuilding Newcastle United from the very bottom: bringing in his own scouting team, scrapping the club’s dated transfer policy and overhauling the academy’s recruitment process.
Lee Charnley also gave Rafa written assurances of the largest transfer budget in the Championship, as well as being able to spent what he made through player sales.
It is believed the Spaniard will look to sign Premier League and Championship experienced players, as well as exploiting the loan market with his ‘high-up contacts across Europe.’
Ross McCormack, Steven Caulker and Lee Tomlin are just some of the names already being linked with summer moves to Tyneside, but Rafa should be looking to promote from the development squad before looking elsewhere.
The last time the Magpies suffered the drop to the Championship, nine under-21 players were used by then-boss Chris Hughton – Patrick van Aanholt, Andy Carroll, Tim Krul, Kazenga LuaLua, Haris Vuckic, Nile Ranger, Tamás Kádár, Ben Tozer and Ryan Donaldson.
A number of those failed to take their chances and were eventually released or sold, but Rafa should take inspiration from the success stories of that season – Andy Carroll, who left for £35million the following season, and Tim Krul. Patrick van Aanholt also went on to become a Premier League starter, but at the Stadium of Light for bitter rivals Sunderland.
Here’s the current under-21 players I believe could make a similar impact next season:
