Having made their comeback into the Premier League, Newcastle United are looking to rebuild their side and make it strong enough to take on teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City. Quite a few potential players being on their list, the Magpies are looking to secure the services of the Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez for the next season.
Newcastle are currently looking for a strike partner who can play alongside their attacking spearhead Dwight Gayle and the English international looks like the one for them. Rodriguez has scored five goals for The Saints this season in 27 appearances, but the lack of starts has kept the forward from showing his true potential.
Jay Rodriguez has been one of the young players who has a lot of potential for the future. However, Southampton coach Claude Puel has handed him only nine starts in the current season and that has reportedly frustrated the 27-year-old English forward as he wants a move away from St Mary’s.
The Southampton striker signed from Burnley in 2012 for £7 million and was at the top of his form in his first season for The Saints. To his utter misfortune, the England international suffered a horrific knee injury in 2014 that kept him out of action for a long period of eleven months. He made his comeback but has struggled to find his old form.
As per reports, Benitez will be holding talks with the club authorities for a £100 million purse to bring in some of the best players to revamp his current side. He has even said that he might leave the club if he is not given full authority over the transfer of players at Newcastle for the next season.
The club authorities, reportedly, have given him full charge of affairs regarding the transfer of players, though there has not been any confirmation over the Spaniard’s demand regarding the transfer budget. Recent reports suggest that Rafa Benitez is to be handed a war chest of £75 million for the summer transfer window.
Apart from Newcastle United, the England international has been pursued by a number of other clubs including West Bromwich Albion. Tony Pulis has been a big fan of the youngster and has been trying to bring him to the Hawthorns for a long time. As per reports, Pulis made a bid worth £10 million to bag Rodriguez during the last transfer window, only to see Southampton reject it. Speculations are rife that Pulis might make a renewed offer to bring in the youngster this season again.
