Russell Edge

Fri 29 December 2017 21:37, UK

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has revealed he is seeking to permanently offload striker Aleksandar Mitrovic from the club as he seeks to secure another striker in January.

The Serbian powerhouse has fallen out of favour under the Spanish boss, with just seven appearances to his name this season, dropping behind both summer signing Joselu and former Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle in the pecking order.

He revealed that he is seeking a departure from St James’ Park in the upcoming winter window, blasting the way the club has treated him, but Benitez has revealed there have been no firm offers for the 23-year-old.

The former Liverpool boss confirmed that they would be looking to offload him, but revealed that he would only be willing to consider a permanent axe from the club, rather than a loan spell, with a lack of funds meaning he would be stuck with the current options if he did not replace Mitrovic with a transfer fee from his sale.

Revealing that transfer talks were ongoing, he told the Chronicle: “We’re in January now, and all the players going to the World Cup in the summer want to play.

“We have the same situation when we approach other teams.

“There are players who want to leave, but clubs say no because the price is not right or they don’t have other options to come in.

“We are asking for players on loan and nobody is prepared to do it.

“In our case (with Mitrovic) we don’t have any offers. And I mean a proper offer.”

Mitrovic has scored 17 goals in 72 appearances for Newcastle since arriving from Belgian side Anderlecht, but is yet to start a single league game this season, with his six substitute appearances garnering a single goal.

In other Newcastle United transfer news, the club’s top flight rivals are readying a £12million swoop for one of the Magpies’ top stars.