Ashley’s cash must start talking or Rafa will start walking

SEASONED Rafa Benitez observers weren’t surprised to hear he’s threatening to walk away from Newcastle unless pledges over money are soon honoured.

He’s said to be fuming that almost two months after being promised a huge transfer kitty the only signing has been Christian Atsu’s loan becoming permanent, while targets such as Tammy Abraham and Willy Caballero have been lost and other moves stalled over fees.

Benitez (right) is doing what he always does, threatening to leave unless he’s backed in the market. Who can blame him? He’s one of the world’s top coaches who would not be short of decent job offers across Europe. He did Newcastle a favour by staying after they were relegated and getting them back up at the first attempt. And he won’t put his hard-earned reputation on the line by managing a sub-standard squad in a Premier League relegation battle.

Benitez has started and finished rows with far more successful chairmen than Mike Ashley who, unless he wants to lose the club’s best boss since Sir Bobby Robson, needs to flash the cash.