Newcastle United have failed to offer manager Rafael Benitez a straight pay rise in their contract offer to him, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper claims that the Magpies could have done more to entice the Spaniard to remain at the club, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this month.
One thing they could have done is offer Benitez a substantial pay rise. However, the Telegraph’s report states that he has as yet only been offered performance-related bonuses on top of his base salary.
OPINION
This is just yet another example of Newcastle owner Mike Ashley’s penny pinching approach to running his football club. He is a business man and so that’s how he runs the Magpies: as a business. So he seemingly isn’t willing to offer Benitez more money, despite the Telegraph’s report stating that the Newcastle boss has received a £12million-per-year offer from China. Instead, Benitez has only been offered performance-related bonuses. That must be a bit of a slap in the face for the former Liverpool manager given all he has achieved with the club. Seemingly they don’t believe that he has earned a pay rise for his work over the past few years. Ultimately, though, we know this contract impasse is about more than just money. Benitez wants the club to match his ambition and give him the resources to achieve his aims at St James’ Park. However, a bit more cash wouldn’t hurt, but it seems Benitez will need to push his team further up the table to secure those bonuses.
