Newcastle United are yet to give Rafael Benitez the reassurance he needs before signing a new deal, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claim that the Spaniard wants assurance over the budget and transfer policy adopted by the club before signing a contract.
The Chronicle report that the former Liverpool boss is reluctant to pen a new deal at St James’ Park due to the ongoing takeover saga. With Benitez uncertain who will be in charge of the club next season, it also seems that he would like clarity on the ownership of the club.
Journalist Chris Waugh wrote: “It is understood that he is still yet to receive the assurances over budget and transfer policy he wants in order to commit himself to the club, while the uncertainty over a potential takeover has also complicated matters further.”
Benitez’ current contract runs out at the end of June, after spending three years in charge of the Magpies.
OPINION
The longer this goes on, the more nervous everyone involved at Newcastle will become. It is quickly becoming a critical matter at St James’ Park, with everyone seeking clarity over the future of the club. Both Mike Ashley and the Bin Zayed Group are ongoing in their discussions, with both parties seeming keen to keep Benitez at the club. Should this be the case, a meeting of some sort must take place to assure Benitez that he is wanted, and more importantly that he will receive the backing he deserves in the transfer market. The next two weeks will be the most important fortnight in the club’s recent history, with Benitez clearly the right man for the job, action must be taken. There would be uproar if the Newcastle hierarchy were to allow the Spaniard to leave without any apparent fight. The Bin Zayed Group needs to take control if they are as close to taking over as they think they are and make sure they secure the future of the most important figure at the club at this moment in time.
