Newcastle Jets looking to use Griffiths money

Newcastle Jets will look to use the money from the sale of Joel Griffiths to buy a key player prior to the A-League finals.

Yesterday, the deal between the Jets and Chinse Super League Beijing Guoan was completed, and now club CEO John Tsatsimas said plans were being put in place to find a suitable player who can help the club attempt to win a second championship but insisted that just anybody would be brought in.

"There are funds that were set aside for Joel," Tsatsimas said.

"As to whether there is a player available and suitable to take those funds is yet to be determined.

"But it would be remiss of us as a club if we did not explore those options.

"We won't be pressured into signing someone for the sake of it, but if the right person comes along, we will certainly look at."

The fact that current marquee player Fabio Vignaroli is on the sidelines with a serious knee injury indicates that the Jets should look for a quality player to add to their squad which coach Branko Culina is keen on.

"It is a big ask for us to have two spots available, particularly with Fabio gone," Culina said.

"He was our marquee player, and it is all very well saying we have done well without him, but everyone is having to work that much harder to cover.

"Take a look at Melbourne and Gold Coast, and Sydney to a lesser extent they get a player injured today, tomorrow they have already got someone.

"We need to have a look at our options. If we are to get as far as we would like to, is there anyone out there who we can bring in to help us? There may not be.

“As I have said all along, I am happy with what we have got,” Culina added.

"However, if the resources are there, it is worthwhile exploring."