No news on my future – Rafa

RAFA Benitez insists there is “no news yet” to deliver on his Newcastle United future – but reiterated again he would like the situation resolved “as soon as possible.”

The Spaniard’s representatives opened negotiations with managingdirector Lee Charnley last month and those discussions continued this week.

As well as negotiating a potential extension to Benitez’s contract – which has a year left to run – other topics being discussed with the club are the transfer budget available this summer and also whether United’s ambitions match those of their manager.

“Still we are talking, but no news,” Benitez replied when asked about whether there was any development on his future.

Pushed as to whether he had set a deadline, and whether supporters should be concerned by the lack of news to emerge from the discussions so far, Benitez was non-committal. “Not really, as soon as possible,” he said in response to a question about his own personal deadline.

“At the moment, we are in the same situation – no news. We are still talking, so we have some time.”

That last cryptic response could be taken as either a positive or a negative by fans but Benitez is clearly minded to let his representatives to continue discussions with the club for now.

In terms of how his own future would impact on other areas of the club, some supporters have raised concerns transfers could be adversely affected.

The off-season transfer window closes earlier this summer – on August 9, the Thursday before the 2018/19 Premier League campaign begins – but Benitez does not think his own contract talks will impact upon United’s business.