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Newcastle supporters will be concerned with Burley’s Benitez suggestion

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OPINION

Newcastle United supporters will not be pleased with the suggestion of former Celtic player Craig Burley that the Scottish champions should attempt to appoint Rafa Benitez as their manager this summer.

Benitez is reportedly currently engaging in talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley over his future at St James’ Park, with the Spaniard thought to be wanting to be given more assurances over the Magpies’ transfer policy, according to the Chronicle.

However, with the Spaniard currently set to be out of contract in the summer, unless he agrees a new deal with Newcastle, there will probably be a host of clubs who will be monitoring his situation and Burley has suggested Celtic should be one of those clubs.

Speaking to TalkSPORT on Monday [11:59am] Burley said: “I just think if Celtic want to make a statement, they have to go after somebody like a Benitez or somebody with a bit of ilk who has got a CV.”

“He’s a Champions League winner, I think he won the league in Spain when he was managing there. We’re talking top drawer managers.

“The fact that Benitez is doing what he’s doing at Newcastle is pretty amazing I think, particularly the second half of the season.”

Those comments reflect just how much Newcastle need to ensure they manage to retain Benitez’s services, with the Spaniard doing an excellent job at St James’ Park, helping the Magpies earn promotion from the Championship in his first full season in charge, before going on to achieve successive mid-table Premier League finishes.

Benitez has managed to achieve all of that despite being given limited resources in the transfer market, with the record signing of Miguel Almiron in January the only big money deal the Spaniard has been able to pull off in the last few transfer windows.

Newcastle’s board will need to ensure that they are able to swiftly manage to sort out Benitez’s concerns over signing a new deal with the club, otherwise they will risk losing the services of a proven manager who has built a connection with the Magpies supporters.

Celtic would be an interesting destination for the Spaniard to chose if he does depart Newcastle, and if Benitez does end up at Celtic Park it would speak volumes that a club playing in a far less financially valuable league, are able to provide better transfer policies for the 59-year-old to work under.

Newcastle supporters will be hopeful that the club can give Benitez the assurances he wants, and that Celtic do not get the opportunity to make a move for the Spaniard as Burley suggests.

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