Keeping Kenedy at NUFC just got a hell of a lot harder - a blow to Benitez's hopes?
There is a real feel good factor with NUFC at the moment, which is refreshing to see. Safety is all but secured after another fine win, this time at 2016 champions Leicester City. Naturally, with safety then comes focus on the summer, where much remains up in the air.
Linked to all this is the future of talented on loan Brazilian Kenedy, who has been key to our revival.
Last night, Sky Sports revealed that Bayern, PSG and a 'number of Premier League clubs' now want to be notified if Chelsea decide to sell him. With this in mind, where do things stand with a potential permanent stay on Tyneside for the left winger?
The big boys are circling - bad news for several reasons
Report surfaced at the weekend that Bayern, PSG and a 'number of Premier league clubs' now tracking him. Now, we all know to take paper talk with a pinch of salt but if true, it is bad news for several reasons. It certainly lifts his price (even if they don't end up pursuing him), it could turn his head as they're much bigger clubs, and it could also make Chelsea think he is better served back in their own first team. The problem with loan players doing so well is you lose control of their future and the better he does, the harder it will be to keep Kenedy.
https://twitter.com/SkySports_Keith/status/983374429618163712
Impact made
One thing that isn’t up for debate is how good he has been for Newcastle in such a short space of time. He was excellent again on Saturday and he has surprised me; when signed I fully expected him to be raw, temperamental, inconsistent and to play left back not left wing. Instead, he has been providing consistent quality from his left foot, he's put in a shift, getting stuck in and showing a lovely mix of flair and fight.
For a 22-year-old he looks a real prospect. He seems to enjoy playing for Newcastle too and after not playing regularly for Chelsea is final thriving. One issue is, the more he impresses for us, the less likely I feel we are to sign him. That's the nature of the beast.
https://twitter.com/amadoit__/status/983449975014264832
Out of our price range under Ashley?
The biggest concern I have as always with Newcastle is whether we will actually pay the fee to make it happen. I fully expect him to cost more than our £18m transfer record if Chelsea were willing to let him go - history suggests Ashley wouldn't pay that.
Signing the likes of Kenedy, whether it is new owners or Ashley, will be exactly the type of thing Rafa will need if we are to convince him to stay. Kenedy could be a key figure in the power battle off the pitch, as takeover talk will no doubt continue to heat up now we are pretty much safe.
How we can persuade him to stay
Finally, one key thing to remember is he has not played a lot of football, so he's loving life playing week in week out at Newcastle (and he said as much in a recent interview). He'd surely be wise enough to know that it's most likely he'd slip back into a reserve or bench-warming role for a big Champions League team? He should realise that right now, Rafa and NUFC is the ideal place for his development.
Scouting and interest in young players is natural for the likes of PSG/Bayern but let’s not forget that a few months ago he was best known for failing during a loan spell at Watford and struggling to ever make it into Chelsea's team (other than the odd cup appearance). He hasn't delivered consistently; I'm not actually convinced that a top club will come forcing their way through for him – yet. Still, he's looked very good and this will have hiked up his price tag, but with Rafa to tempt him and potential new owners, it could happen.
What price would you pay for Kenedy? And do you think he would stay?
