Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has revealed he is worried about the progress the club are making throughout the summer transfer window.
The Magpies survived their first season back in the Premier League last year due to the expert management of the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss.
Expected to be in and around the relegation places, Benitez galvanised his squad as they finished 10th, a massive 11 points off the bottom three.
Newcastle have been somewhat busy this summer, bringing in former loanee Martin Dubravka from Sparta Prague for an undisclosed fee, Ki Sung-Yeung on a free transfer after he left recently relegated Swansea City, re-signing Chelsea attacker Kenedy on loan for the season and confirming the signature of Fabian Schar from La Liga outfit Deportivo.
However, further investment is needed this summer to ensure that they can sustain their place in the Premier League. The sale of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to recently promoted Fulham for a reported £22 million suggests that the money is there.
The question is whether owner Mike Ashley wants to spend it.
Speaking to reporters (via the Evening Chronicle) after Newcastle’s poor 4-0 friendly defeat to Braga, Benitez told of his frustrations at the club heading into the new campaign.
He said: “It was a bad game.
“We did not do things the way we have to. Ten days before the start of the season now and this is wake up call.
“We have to realise we can’t make these mistakes. Things are not going well off the pitch and you can see a reflection of that on the pitch.”
He was asked if he was hinting at the player recruitment at the club, to which he said: “Everything.”
When pushed on if he knew of any deals happening anytime soon, Benitez said: “I have no idea.”
“As I say things aren’t going well off the pitch and you can see a reflection. We were poor and we made too many mistakes.
“We have to wake up – that’s it.”
Newcastle United’s first Premier League fixture of the season is at home to Tottenham Hotspur on August 11.
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