Why you must act now and secure Rafa’s future
FORMER Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle believes it would take an “unbelievable sort of deal” to convince Rafa Benitez to leave St James’ Park for West Ham United.
Reports yesterday claimed that the Hammers are prepared to meet the £6m buy-out clause in Benitez’s contract, and that the Spaniard is now the preferred option of the London Stadium hierarchy.
Benitez is currently in negotiations with the Magpies over extending his Newcastle deal, which has a year left to run, but he is yet to agree new terms.
But even though Waddle understands Benitez needs investment this summer in order to make Newcastle competitive next season, the ex-England winger does not view West Ham as a particularly attractive alternative.
“Benitez might look at it and think: ‘You know at Newcastle, I’ve got that budget which is not obviously great.’ And he wants more and rightly so,” Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live about reports linking the Magpies boss with West Ham.
“But going to West Ham it might be a very similar budget and he says at Newcastle, he’s absolutely loved, the fans love him, and rightly so, he’s done a great job.
“He could go to West Ham, lose the first five games and it’s like: ‘What [are] you doing here?’
“So for him to move it would have to be an unbelievable sort of deal to say: ‘I’m allowed to spend a lot of money to bring certain players in I’ve identified, who I’d probably like to bring to Newcastle, who are even bigger players.’ “Where do you want to be? That is the question for any manager going into West Ham. Where do you want to be? “Will it be a relegation battle? Will it be mid-table? Where actually does the club wanna go? “But, if they don’t spend at Newcastle, then obviously to get the maximum out of those players again is very difficult, that’ll be three years running, with the same basic squad.”
Ex-Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin went further than Waddle – and claimed he’d be “amazed” if Benitez went to east London.
He predicts some of Europe’s top clubs could move for the Spaniard given the “phenomenal job” he has done on Tyneside.
“I’d be amazed if Rafa actually went to West Ham,” Nevin said.
“Considering his history, considering where he’s been and what he’s done, especially what he’s done recently.
“In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some very, very, very big clubs were interested in Rafa Benitez. He’s done a phenomenal job.”
Ex-England captain Terry Butcher, also on the show, acknowledges that Benitez needs to be backed this summer.
“That’s the reason they’re interested – well, Rafa’s allegedly interested – is because of the budget talks with the owner,” Butcher said.
“Because you know he needs assurances, because he’s got them up there in a good position in the league and it’s a good position then to springboard and go up, which is what the Newcastle fans want.”