Magpies can’t allow blow of Benitez exit
FUTURE OF BOSS NEEDS SORTING QUICKLY
IT IS the link which just will not go away. Every time there is uncertainly over the managerial position at West Ham United, Rafa Benitez’s name resurfaces as a potential contender for the role.
Now though, rather than just a murmuring of interest as it has been in the past, it appears as if an approach will be made to Newcastle United for the Spaniard’s services – if the latest national reports prove to be correct.
As a result, the onus shifts towards the Newcastle hierarchy to finally break the impasse which has beset contract talks between Benitez and the club.
Managing-director Lee Charnley has been negotiating with Benitez’s representatives for more than three and a half weeks – yet we are still to hear of a resolution to discussions.
Owner Mike Ashley released a statement on Sunday stating he “hoped” Benitez would stay before promising he “will continue to ensure every penny generated by the club” is made available to the Magpies’ manager.
However, words alone will not convince Benitez to remain on Tyneside even if – in an ideal world – he would like to do so.
Yet, before he will commit his long-term future to the club, Benitez wants to be reassured the hierarchy matches his ambition to progress.
The Spaniard is not interested in another relegation battle and a tight 10th-placed finish next season.
He is also not interested in midtable mediocrity, either. Benitez wants to be able to construct a competitive squad which can challenge for European qualification and a domestic trophy. As well as negotiating a potential extension, other topics being discussed with the club are the transfer budget which will be made available this summer and also whether Newcastle will finally provide the upgrades to the Academy, under-23 set up and training ground the Spaniard asked them to at least 12 months previously. Benitez takes a holistic view on Newcastle United as a football club – and he wants to see progress not only with the first team but everywhere within the Magpies’ set-up. That is part of the reason why contract negotiations have been dragging on indefinitely. Evidently, Benitez has yet to be convinced Newcastle will deliver what he wants. However, there is also a trust element to consider here. Benitez felt let down by Ashley during three successive transfer windows and, no matter what the owner stresses in a carefully-constructed statement, that will not convince the Spaniard things are about to change.
This correspondent has felt all along direct contact between Ashley and Benitez was necessary to keep the United manager at St James’ Park for the long run – and these latest reports have only reinforced that belief.
However, these reports themselves must also be contextualised.
Over the last two years, Benitez has laid foundations at Newcastle – and he sees the potential at the club.
Was he to move to West Ham, then he would have to start entirely from scratch – not just on the field but off the pitch too.
The Spaniard has reconnected NUFC fans with the club but to do so in east London appears an even tougher task, given the support base’s anger and frustration.
Also, West Ham – or at least people high up at the club – regularly brief journalists and, sometimes at least, it appears part of it is a PR exercise.
We need only look back to January, when there were endless reports the Hammers were confident of luring Jonjo Shelvey to the London Stadium.
Yet Newcastle and Benitez made it clear from the start, both publicly and privately, they simply would not countenance selling Shelvey to a relegation rival.
Still the reports kept coming – but Shelvey ultimately stayed on Tyneside, just as Benitez said he would.
Earlier this week, after David Moyes’ exit from the London Stadium was confirmed, Hammers’ coowner David Sullivan stressed: “We aim to appoint a high-calibre figure who we feel will lead the club into an exciting future for our loyal supporters within the next 10 days.”
A similar sentiment was shared three summers ago – when Sullivan claims Benitez was “two hours” from joining West Ham before Real Madrid made a last-minute move for his services.
No doubt Sullivan realises he has to be seen to be attempting to lure one of England’s most sought-after managers to the capital, even if ultimately his advances may prove unsuccessful.
Clearly, it is in Benitez’s interests to woo West Ham
It gives the Spaniard leverage in