Fansided

5 losers of the January transfer window

By Andrew Bernucca

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Paul Lambert the head coach / manager of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Huddersfield Town at Bet365 Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Paul Lambert the head coach / manager of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Huddersfield Town at Bet365 Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 5: Rafael Benitez gives instructions during the Newcastle United training session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on January 5, 2018, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 5: Rafael Benitez gives instructions during the Newcastle United training session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on January 5, 2018, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) /

Newcastle

Rafa Benitez did a brilliant job the summer after Newcastle suffered relegation by building a squad that could compete with the 46-game season they would face in the Championship and get right back into the top flight.

After doing exactly that, Benitez wasn’t afforded funds to improve the squad for the upcoming Premier League season due to owner Mike Ashley’s desire to sell the club.

Six months on and nothing has changed. Ashley refuses to relinquish funds for the former Liverpool manager as he’s still seeking a potential sale.

The club are barely clear of the drop zone and their best players this season have been midfielder Mikel Merino and center back Jamaal Lascelles. They’ve been rotating Joselu and Dwight Gayle as their forwards, but neither are truly capable of leading the line for a Premier League club.

Benitez was desperate to bolster his squad and make their fight against the drop easier so he could begin to look towards next season.

Instead, another transfer window closes with very little business as the club was only able to bring Kenedy in on loan from Chelsea. With sale of the club still looming, this transfer window becomes another loss for Newcastle.

Home/Champions League