Last season’s Championship winners Newcastle United have had a tough season this time so far. Under Rafa Benitez, the club played some scintillating football to finish top last time around and qualify for the riches of the English Premier League. They have had it tough this time in the league so far with the players still adjusting to the quality of England’s top league.
After a quick start, Newcastle United flopped and their loss in form saw them sink to the lower end of the table. They managed to pause their slump and hold their form, something which saw the club move back to a respectable position in the league. But another slump saw Newcastle slide down again. They now stand 14th on the table with 23 points from 23 games. They have collected just 9 of their last 42 available points and new players are needed at the club.
They have been linked with Everton’s Aaron Lennon. The former Tottenham Hotspur man who burst into the scene because of his pace and dribbling skills went on to represent England as well. However, his inconsistent form meant that he could never become the star he was meant to and subsequently was lost as another British potential.
His move to Everton hardly made a difference to his career and in his time at the club, he has not been able to break into the first team on a regular basis. With the Everton man at the end of his contract this season and Everton lining up a move for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, Lennon could well be on the move again, this time to Newcastle United.
On the transfer front, things have been very jittery and unplanned. Rafael Benitez has made no secret of the fact that Newcastle United need new players to compete. After a very impressive season in the Championships that saw Newcastle return to the Premier League, Benitez demanded more signings of Premier League standard to establish the club in England’s premier competition. However, with Newcastle unable to sell their current crop of players, Newcastle has had to deal with the same old squad and that has frustrated Benitez.
The club has had a rough few months with the problem of ownership looming large over them. Until the takeover is complete though Benitez has had to cope with the purse stringent owners. The owners have been extremely unwilling to spend any more in a club they could be selling off very soon and Benitez has had to bear the brunt of a stagnant club.
With the January window now finally open, Rafa Benitez has made it clear he needs new faces in the team to make things work and Lennon could well be one of the faces he could see at Newcastle United.
