Benitez shouldn't get too excited about January spending assurances just yet

By Sam Preston

Rafa Benitez has been assured that the off-field speculation around Newcastle United’s ownership situation will not impact on the money available for him to spend in January, according to the Chronicle.

Mike Ashley is reportedly in talks to sell the club, but Benitez has been told that will not impact his ability to improve his squad next month, and he apparently expects to bring in ‘two or three players’.

But question marks must remain over whether Mike Ashley – whose reluctance to spend money has held Newcastle back for years – would really be willing to stump up for players to join a club he is about to sell.

Newcastle and their fans have been here before, with broken promises and botched takeovers and reports that Peter Kenyon’s bid to buy the club is £100m short will not ease any fears.

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

So Benitez would be wise not to get too excited about improving his options during the transfer window until the players are through the door at St James’ Park.

A healthy dose of cynicism is needed with any of Ashley’s promises and it is very possible that a month of off-field uncertainty hampers Newcastle’s transfer hopes once again once the window opens.