Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley does not look likely to give manager Rafael Benitez more than £50million for his transfer budget if he were to pen a new contract at St James’ Park, according to journalist Lee Ryder.
The Chronicle’s chief Newcastle reporter claimed in a live question and answer on the newspaper’s website (03/04, 15:01) that the sticking point in negotiations between the Spanish boss and the club is the amount of money the owner will give him to splash in the summer market.
However, despite Benitez speaking about £75million strikers after their defeat to Arsenal, Ryder believes £50million is the maximum the manager can expect.
He said: “I think he’s certainly keen on offering him a contract as he has kept the club together and he can have no complaints. The big sticking point now is how much he gets to spend on players.He will get a decent kitty but I don’t think it will be over £50million.”
Opinion
Oh dear – that is not what Benitez nor the Newcastle fans wanted to hear. There has been a severe lack of ambition at St James’ Park under Ashley but with the manager threatening to leave if he does not get what he wants, they might have thought this would be the summer where the owner opened his chequebook and splashed out on improving the squad. Unfortunately it seems as though Benitez is once again going to have to work his magic – if he stays of course – with £50million relative peanuts in comparison to what their rivals are spending. Money might not be everything – Fulham spent over £100million only to end up getting relegated after just a season in the Premier League – but it is the only way Benitez is going to get this Newcastle side climbing up the table. Otherwise they are going to stand still while their rivals improve and that is only going to end in relegation for the Magpies.
