Newcastle United will be worried if Rafa Benitez’s contract saga goes on beyond a fortnight after the end of the season, according to the Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder.
The Spanish manager is still yet to agree terms on a new deal at St. James’ Park, and while there is technically no rush to tie him down, the reliable reporter believes that the wrangle must be concluded as soon as possible.
Ryder highlights the fact Newcastle United can’t mess around in the summer due to an early deadline day and their main worry will be getting Benitez contract sorted out in time.
Writing in a Q&A for the Chronicle, he said: “We all know that his contract is up in five games times.
“Once Newcastle’s place in the Premier League is concerned he won’t want things dragging on too long and neither should they.
“The worry is if it goes beyond a week or two of the closed season as the writing will feel like it’s on the wall.
“Either way, United can’t mess about in the summer with an early deadline day coming up before a ball is even kicked in the Premier League.”
OPINION
Ryder is spot on with this one. The sooner Benitez agrees a new contract, the sooner everybody can rest easier, and perhaps more importantly, the sooner the Magpies can look into making inroads in the transfer market. Mike Ashley is going to be hesitant about spending at the best of times, but he is definitely not going to give his backing to a manager who could walk out of the door at any moment. Benitez has repeatedly said that the main thing preventing him from signing a new deal has been the desire to see his side to safety before sitting down for discussions. You would wager that they are perhaps just one game away from ensuring Premier League football, if they’re not there already, and so the sooner they can pick up the three points that would see them safe, the sooner Benitez can turn his attention to the matter at hand. You would be surprised if he left, but as Ryder says, the longer this drags on, the more likely his departure becomes.
