Guillem Balague shared that Newcastle United need to prove they were committed on aiming to achieve more than just Premier League survival for Rafa Benitez to pen a new deal.
The Spanish journalist shared that in his opinion the Magpies were clearly close to being more than a team battling relegation, highlighting some impressive stats.
Balague shared that for the Magpies to see Benitez pen the new deal to extend his stay that is currently on the table, they must show their ambition by being committed improving their facilities and results.
“Despite having recorded Newcastle’s worst 10-game start to a season since the 19th century, back-to-back wins means they are up to 14th in the table. For the time being at least, they can look upwards,” wrote Balague for BBC Sport.
“Tottenham are the only side from the top six to have beaten Benitez’s Newcastle by more than two goals (August 2017) and in his past eight Premier League games against the top six he has either won (twice) or lost by a single goal.
“All of which means one thing: Newcastle are close but clearly not close enough.
“Benitez’s contract comes to an end next summer. As it stands he has a renewal offer on the table, but to be signed the club have to show enough commitment with a project that should be around improving facilities and results, not just survival.
“Should Salomon Rondon – on a year’s loan from West Brom – continue to score for his new club then he may will dig them out of a hole, guarantee survival and once again Ashley will believe his approach has been vindicated. With Gayle having gone in the opposite direction to the Baggies, the two clubs should be able to sit down and work out a deal to suit all parties.
“But it will probably take considerably more than that to ensure Benitez will be committing his future to the city that has adopted him as one of their own – and that is a real shame.”
OPINION
It seems Balague believes that Benitez will pen a deal as long as the Magpies are committed to being a club who can see his ambitious visions met. This is understandable and has to be suggested before by others, mainly as the Spanish manager not being one who seems intent on holding out simply for a bigger pay day. Whether the Magpies can prove their ambition while Mike Ashley owns the club is the major issue. The businessman is trying to sell the club by all accounts, it seems, and of course he is not going to be able to commit to provided the Magpies with a bright future for that reason. Yet with Benitez’s contract expiring in the coming summer then a new owner may emerge too late to stop the talented boss walking out the doors of St James Park. Hopefully the situation changes and Ashley is somehow able to oversee Benitez being held on to, as he is a irreplaceable asset that the club own.
