With limited resources and transfer funds, Rafa Benitez has done a great job in taking Newcastle United to the top flight and then to a place in the top half of the Premier League table in the last two seasons. The fans will naturally want the club to compete for a place in Europe but the financial restriction on Rafa will mean that Newcastle United need to sell, to improve their squad.
The Spaniard is also in danger of losing a few of his first-team stars this summer. While Mikel Merino is close to a move to La Liga, star winger Matt Ritchie is attracting interests from elsewhere in England. But one player the manager is happy to lose is Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Serbian international, who scored a hat-trick against Bolivia before the World Cup, also found the back of the net in the group stages but failed to take his side into the next phase of the competition. He joined the Magpies from Anderlecht in 2015 but has failed to establish himself at St James’ Park till date.
He has 14 goals in 65 league appearances for the club but has not earned the faith of the manager, who sent him out on loan to Fulham in January this year. The 23-year old took no time to make an impact at Craven Cottage, scoring 12 goals and picking up an assist in just 18 league starts.
This turn in form has, however, not impressed Rafa, with reports claiming that he is ready to let the striker quit the club this summer. Slavisa Jokanovic, who managed to get the best out of his fellow countryman last season, is reportedly close to landing him on a permanent deal.
It is understood that Newcastle United have slapped a price tag of £20m on his services, which the Cottagers are happy to meet. But can the Magpies afford to lose the Serbian?
A target man with a keen eye for a goal, Mitrovic is a perfect fit for the English game and is capable of troubling even the best of the defences in the country. He showed decent form in the World Cup and at just 23, has a prosperous future ahead of him.
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But for some odd reason, Rafa, who has Joselu and Dwight Gayle as his best striking options, does not see Mitrovic making an impact on the first team. So if they can get £20m from his sale, Newcastle United are better off trying to rebuild their squad with that money, rather than hold on to a man the manager is not comfortable playing regularly.
