A Sky Sports journalist has suggested that Rafa Benitez is ‘frustrated’ at Newcastle and could leave should Mike Ashley not sell the club.
In an interview on the Sky Sports website, North East of England football reporter Keith Downie discussed the possibility of Amanda Staveley buying the club, Benitez’s relationship with Ashley and impact takeover talks had in the January transfer window.
Downie makes a pointed reference to Benitez’s unhappiness at the way the club “drag everything out and make it hard” after being forced to wait until the latter stages of the window to sign players who weren’t his priority targets. Islam Slimani, for example, was “fourth or fifth choice” on Benitez’s wishlist
United fans are already fearful that Benitez will walk away at the end of the season and Downie believes there is a strong possibility the Spaniard could depart St James’ Park if a takeover doesn’t materialise.
“My prediction is that if the takeover doesn’t happen, Newcastle will struggle to keep hold of Benitez,” he said.
“He has other suitors elsewhere, other clubs who know what he is capable of. He came to Newcastle wanting to improve the team, to get them into the top half of the table and compete for honours.
“He knows he is not going to do that with the current squad, and the only way he can improve that squad is if the takeover happens and there’s someone at the top of the club who is willing to put money into it to progress it.”
