"?Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is said to be unhappy with the club's current transfer policy under Rafa Benitez, and is poised to impose his authority on further purchases.
Ashley has apparently demanded that the Magpies revert to their tradition of buying young players and reselling for profit, according to a report in the "?Mirror.
Newcastle chief Mike Ashley reinstates controversial transfer policy of signing youngsters with sell-on value https://t.co/6sAJCQDkvu
The piece claims that the owner held several meetings with the club's hierarchy during the last week, and moved to reinstate the controversial policy.
Benitez had been handed full charge of transfers, and that seemed to have worked quite well. Newcastle are on top of the Championship standings, and look a nailed-on certainty for promotion into the top flight, yet Ashley is dissatisfied with the way things have been going on the financial front.
The Spaniard brought 10 new players in over the summer, with Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle being the most high profile, after the sales of Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum left him with money to spend.
Dwight Gayle is the first Newcastle United player to score 20+ goals in a single season since Alan Shearer in 2003/04. pic.twitter.com/dOFeo2R8ML
"He [Ashley] has left managing director Lee Charnley in no doubt as to his wishes and former recruitment guru Graham Carr is set for a direct role in all future purchases," the report read.
Benitez only wants one player in this window, and has searched for cover for Christian Atsu, who is away on AFCON duty. He admits that the period is very tough one, however.
"It's not an easy window,"? he said.
"We had our targets but when you start talking to clubs it's almost impossible because they ask for big money or don't want to sell.
"We tried and clubs were telling us, "?No, he's not for sale,' or "?he's £20m'."?