We’ll spend if you sign, Rafa
MARQUEE STAR OFFERED AS INCENTIVE FOR TOON BOSS
RAFA Benitez has been told he will be permitted to buy a marquee signing this summer – if he agrees to sign a contract extension with Newcastle United.
Behind the scenes, there have been suggestions another bigmoney transfer like Miguel Almiron will be possible for the Toon boss if he decides to stay at St James’ Park.
Almiron’s transfer has proved to be a success but getting the deal done proved to be a complicated affair as Newcastle haggled with Atlanta United and the player’s agent for over two months.
A clutch of names ahead of the summer window have been put to Benitez but the United chief wants to see a structured plan put in place.
Concrete assurances will also be needed.
His idea is to rebuild the club properly and relay the foundations in certain areas rather than build from ceiling down.
Names such as Brazilian star Joelinton have been bandied around the club in recent weeks but Benitez also has other targets in mind.
One of the snags he has had during his three years on Tyneside is how transfer money is spent.
The recent process on transfers has been for Benitez to submit the name of a player before waiting to see if the valuation of the target can be met. In 2018, the Spaniard asked
if there was a pot of money he could splash out on one marquee target or whether the budget had to be spread on all of the targets.
Back then he said: “It is important to know exactly how much we have (to spend).
“I was asking Lee Charnley the other day and I am waiting for an answer in a few days. We need to know.”
Benitez has never really had a transfer blueprint to work off and now there are reports circulating that Ashley wants to revert back to his policy of signing younger players with potential – and arguably future sell on value.
For now, Benitez has breathing space in terms of transfer talks after stating he would rather wait until the club are safe in the Premier League before sitting down with Ashley - although there is nothing planned at this stage with his representatives.
Benitez remains in contact with managing-director Charnley and the club’s day-to-day boss made a beeline for the manager’s office after the 3-2 win over Everton to offer his congratulations.
With eight games left, this season is starting to shape up a little bit like last year.
United are in 13th place and withing swinging distance of the top 10 again but have two testing away games next against Bournemouth and Arsenal.
Was Benitez to guide the club to the top half of the Premier League again he would win plenty of plaudits after guiding the team away from relegation trouble.
Last year, the Newcastle public demanded he should receive a contract extension but it did not happen. Plans were shelved over another row over spending money and, instead of building on the feel-good factor, there was a backdrop of uncertainty on Tyneside. Surely that cannot happen again? Ashley has let things drag on behind the scenes before and Geordie fans are now fully accustomed to his methods.
Instead of building on the feel-good factor, there was a backdrop of uncertainty on Tyneside