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Benitez on brink after transfer stand-off

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OPINION

Rafa Benitez has reportedly been offered two contract extensions this summer and has turned both of them down in a clear indication of the crisis that could soon envelope Newcastle.

The claim was made in the Chronicle where they said the first offer was a five-year deal, which Benitez turned down when “some requests weren’t granted”.

Following this, the club offered him a one-year extension but Benitez rejected this too, saying a short-term solution would be pointless.

He is into his last year at Newcastle and this is a clear indication that if things don’t change – and that means either money for transfers or a new owner who will commit funds – Benitez could well be off.

Who could blame him? Newcastle is owned by a man who fans hate and who is obviously not running the club for football reasons.

Benitez voiced his frustrations against Ashley on the club’s recent trip to Dublin, saying: “We are fine in terms of profit. Maybe you have to ask this question to Lee Charnley.

“He has the numbers. I am trying to do my best in these conditions, that’s what I can say.

“We were talking about the situation at this time. After, we were talking about numbers and the possibility of an extension.

“But I don’t think an extension is an excuse for anything.”If you sign a one-year extension, what does that mean for the players you sign on a five-year contract? It’s nothing. It’s not an issue.”

Benitez has had his loyalty stretched way beyond what most managers of his talent would take.

He’s said before that he’d stay at Newcastle for 10 years if the conditions were right. And that’s not a big fat raise for himself, but funds so he can take Newcastle back to the top of the Premier League.

The club would be worth so much more money if Benitez was allowed to do that, with careful investment.

But Ashley, for whatever reason, won’t listen to experts and thinks he knows best.

When Benitez goes, his business acumen will really be under the spotlight.

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