THE TALK OF FOOTBALL

RAFA BENITEZ’s future at Newcastle is dependent on a new £350million bid to buy the club by PCP Capital Partners.

The Newcastle manager is ready to quit rather than go through another transfer window with Mike Ashley in charge. Benitez (below) was deeply disappointed by the club’s backing last summer, and January’s loan signings only reinforce the club’s shortterm approach to survival.

PCP were described as ‘time wasters’ by Ashley last month but PCP’s Amanda Staveley is not ready to end interest in Newcastle, especially with a lucrative Premier League TV deal in prospect, providedthe club avoids relegation.