RAFA PLAYING HARD-BALL WITH ASHLEY
RAFA BENITEZ has yet to decide whether to stay in charge of Newcastle next season.
The Spanish coach will thrash out his future next week but sources say he does not know if the Chelsea game tomorrow will be his last.
Toon owner Mike Ashley will have to fight to keep Benitez, who wants a series of transfer-related guarantees. Benitez is interested in a long-term stay on Tyneside to build a squad that can challenge for a trophy but agreement is a long way away.
The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid boss wants a business plan, with cash set aside for a transfer kitty.
And he also wants the power to negotiate deals, alongside MD Lee Charnley, without interference from above. His view is that if he wants to blow his entire budget on just two players, then he should be allowed.
Last summer Benitez was left fuming that deals were blocked or delayed.
He also wants a commitment to improve the training ground and academy.
Benitez still has one year left on his contract and he will not sign a new deal until Ashley, who has the club up for sale, gives him assurances.
The dispute is not about a demand for cash, but freedom to get deals done.
Yesterday Benitez reported “nothing new” in his contract talks.
He said: “First we are still talking. I still have a contract, that is positive. We will wait to see what we get. The question is what we can achieve. This club has to be in the top 10.
“How? We have to do a lot of things right and to start making the right decisions now.
“In England you can see that if you have an idea and the idea is right and you have the support you can carry on improving.
“You can have a project, a proper project, not just for the Press, a proper project, working every day.
“We did that at Liverpool in the time I was there.”
Skipper Jamaal Lascelles has been linked with a big-money switch to Liverpool.
Benitez wants to keep his key defender but he added: “People say ‘wheel and deal’ and sometimes you have to do it because, if not, you don’t have any money.”