Rafa Benitez seeking huge Newcastle United transfer spend on goal-shy attack

Rafa Benitez has warned Newcastle need to spend up to £75million on strikers to compete.

The Magpies’ boss has laid down an expensive marker for the kind of investment he wants if he is to stay iin charge beyond the end of his current contract this summer.

Benitez is negotiating with owner Mike Ashley’s representatives over what is needed to take Newcastle to another level — by which the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager means establishing themselves as a top eight club. And, far from being content with being given record-signing Miguel Almiron in January for what could amount to £21m, Benitez is battling for more ambitious buys.

After Monday’s 2-0 loss away to Arsenal, he said: “The final third, we have been speaking all season… the final third you have to spend £40m, £50m, £75m.”

Newcastle have netted 31 times in their 32 Premier League games this season — only the bottom three have fewer — and their leading scorer in the top flight, on-loan West Brom striker Salomon Rondon, has only nine goals.

Benitez has been told the club want him to sign a new deal, and a three-year, £15m contract is being prepared.

However he will only get serious about staying on when Newcastle get safe from relegation for another season, and changes have been nailed down around the club.

The Spaniard, who has won major silverware with five different clubs in Spain, England and Italy, is looking for positive reasons to stay. But Toon chiefs are still guessing over his ultimate intentions — and offers from around Europe are likely to open up in the coming weeks.

Likewise, the club are covering their backs and exploring options so they are not left in the lurch in May should the worst happen.

Benitez still regards himself as trophy-hunting boss, despite three years of stabilising the Geordies and sterring them straight back up after relegation, and wants the tools to break the club’s 50-year trophy drought.

The 58-year-old is holding a firm line on his future, adding on Monday night: “People can talk about things, and that’s normal in football. Players, managers, whatever. The only thing I can do now is try to do the job properly and stay in the Premier League.

“Nothing has changed. We’re exactly the same as we were some days ago. We’re in the same position, the same situation. I’m just trying to concentrate on Crystal Palace on Saturday.”