Rafa Benitez has ruled out selling Aleksandar Mitrovic to another Premier League club this month, even if they do come up with the asking price.
Newcastle are currently negotiating with Dutch giants Feyenoord over star striker Nicolai Jorgensen and are believed to be open to letting Mitrovic leave in order to raise funds, but Benitez has refused to sell to a fellow relegation rival.
Brighton are understood to have bid around £7million for the want-away Serbia international, less than half what the Magpies paid Anderlecht for him two-and-a-half years ago, but Newcastle have shot the offer down.
Benitez said on the matter;
It was clear to him and his agent, if we can bring a striker in, then we can consider anything – apart from the Premier League. If we can’t bring in a striker, then we have to consider carefully because we need players.
I see in the press that Brighton offered £7million or £8million, but we are not considering selling to a Premier League team. It doesn’t matter how much teams offer.
Benitez also hopes that managing director Lee Charnley will make further breakthroughs on the transfer market during the final days as the club look to fight the drop in the second half of the season.
Newcastle have already signed Kenedy from Chelsea on loan, and Benitez said about future signings;
We have to make sure on the 31st [of January] we will have the players we want.
I don’t do the business, I only do the football issues. Lee Charnley does. We gave a list of players to them on January 1 and the plans A, B and C were ready. I have confidence that before the 31st, we will bring someone else.
Comments.
Loading comments…