Mike Ashley is very keen to keep Rafa Benitez on Tyneside beyond the summer, but there are some things Rafa wants that he will not get from the owner if he signs a new deal.
Since the transfer window closed both Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley have made it known to Rafa they want him to stay on at the club.
That’s according to an article in the Chronicle today.
Rafa is happy enough at Newcastle where he is just adored by the fans and has an excellent rapport with the local press.
But he also is ambitious and wants Newcastle to be more ambitious if he stays – Rafa wants to win trophies at Newcastle.
It appears that Ashley and Charnley have let it be known that most of his requirements will be part of a five-year plan.
Rafa Benitez – smiling in Spain last week
Those include significant upgrades to the Benton Training grounds and also money invested so that Rafa can recreate the Youth Academy.
The manager is keen to bring more young players through to the first team but needs Ashley to invest in the Academy – and over time that will save the owner.
Sean Longstaff is one recent success and if that lad keeps improving heaven knows how much he would be worth in the transfer market.
Not that Rafa wants to sell his best players – he wants them in his new team at Newcastle.
And Rafa wants to see more ambition from the Newcastle owner.
But he will not see any because Ashley doesn’t have any big ambitions for Newcastle United.
That’s the truth and one of the owner’s huge problems.
Newcastle can offer Rafa Benitez a lot of what he wants, but he needs financial support in the transfer windows most of all.
He’s close to his home in Liverpool and is able to spend two or three days with the family regularly.
And Rafa likes leading such a great club as Newcastle United – even though we are still a sleeping giant.
Rafa has also brought in some classy players even though Ashley has spent very little money on new players over the last two years
Rafa has brought in players like Dubravka, Lejeune, Schar, Fernandez, Rondon, Ki and Almiron.
He is also guiding Sean Longstaff to become a top player at his home town club.
So there are positives for Rafa to stay on at Newcastle even though Ashley is still the owner.
He also has made it clear he wants five new players brought in during the summer and will let fringe players leave the club.
We are hoping Wor Flags with their impressive array of flags will ensure Rafa knows the fans still love him and desperately want him to stay.
If he can sign a five-year deal and Ashley follows through with his promises things could be looking up for Newcastle.
But Ashley is a dark horse in all of this – as usual.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
2 comments so far
Mag52
Feb 21, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #1Ed. Ashley as a dark horse or a black cloud ?
widowmagandapoke
Feb 21, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #2I would trust Ashley with my last halfpenny, but nothing else.