Rumours fly over future of Benitez
RAFA Benitez’s future continues to dominate the Newcastle United agenda - but additional transfer links are also filtering through as we hurtle towards the end of the season.
Yet it is the on-going discussions between Benitez’s representatives and Newcastle managing-director Lee Charnley which are attracting the highest volume of stories.
The Spaniard continues to be linked with Leicester City, should Claude Puel be dismissed at the end of the season, while Benitez’s former club Napoli have also been credited with an interest in a reunion with the Newcastle manager.
According to the London Evening Standard, however, Benitez is not among the frontrunners to succeed Maurizio Sarri at the Stadio San Paolo.
It is understood the Spaniard would prefer to remain at St James’ Park, however, and that is why negotiations remain on-going over potentially extending his Newcastle contract - which has just 12 months left to run.
Interestingly, The Mirror reports Benitez is seeking “written guarantees about his future budget and powers” before he will commit his longterm future to United, the 58-year-old believing he has a “strong hand” after guiding the Magpies to safety with time to spare.
It is also claimed Benitez struck a “verbal agreement” with the Newcastle hierarchy last summer which delivered him a £70million transfer kitty to spend across three windows.
If that is that case, then that agreement still has another window to run - and it would suggest the Spaniard would only be afforded around £30m-£40m this summer.
However, the report goes on to stress Benitez “wants to firm up the club’s ambition” and receive written guarantees he will be backed more substantially than last summer, when his earlysummer targets were not signed.
A similar report in The Sun echoes Benitez’s desire to receive “written assurances” but claims Newcastle’s hierarchy “believe their manager will agree a new deal soon. “
The report then goes on to state Benitez could yet stay on as manager into next season “without signing fresh terms.”
Meanwhile, rumours Mikel Merino will move to Athletic Bilbao have again resurfaced.