OPINION
Many Newcastle United fans are surely worried that Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande are reportedly plotting a move for Rafa Benitez in case current coach Fabio Cannavaro quits.
The Daily Mirror reported on Thursday that Guangzhou previously approached Benitez over being their manager, only to be rejected, but there is a chance it could be a different story this time around.
The national newspaper claim the Chinese club are eyeing making a lucrative move for Benitez and surely they may be able to tempt him as only a few could turn down the sort of money they’re likely to offer.
This is especially the case when you consider there isn’t much time left on Benitez’s current Magpies contract as that is set to expire in the summer, so he is unlikely to rule out any decent offer that comes his way.
While Guangzhou’s approach hinges on whether Cannavaro quits, that is likely scenario as the Mirror claim that after leading China’s national team in the recent China Cup, he is considering taking the post full-time.
With that in mind surely many Newcastle fans are worried that Benitez could soon get an offer from the Chinese club as you wouldn’t back Mike Ashley to be able to compete with what they could provide financially.
Also given that talk of Benitez getting a new Magpies contract has been around since last summer and a deal still hasn’t been sealed, then supporters have to be losing faith that he will stay beyond the end of the season.
The manager has been a key part of the Magpies being able to steer clear of the relegation zone this season and wowed everyone in his 2017/18 campaign by somehow guiding his side to a top-10 finish.
When you consider that other managers would struggle to achieve both these feats with the budget Benitez works on, surely any sign an offer is coming his way that could see his exit, has to cause panic.
