Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Sky Sports reporter predicts Rafa Benitez is set to sign a short-term extension at Newcastle United

5 years ago
Share

Like everything else at Newcastle United, the future of Rafa Benitez has a question mark over it.

Widespread media reports have previously stated that Rafa has been asked a number of times to sign a contract extension, only for the Newcastle boss to repeatedly state that he would see what happened in the January 2019 transfer window, before making any decision.

We had an initial (summer 2016) transfer window where both Mike Ashley (a £40m profit on transfer deals) and Rafa Benitez (allowed enough cash to rebuild a team/squad that won instant promotion as champions).

The following four have seen Rafa Benitez each time state that promises given by Mike Ashley had been broken, so little wonder the former Liverpool boss wants to wait and see what happens this time before thinking about any commitment.

However, this month has seen the extra element of a supposed sale of the club in the near future.

Keith Downie covers Newcastle for Sky Sports and he now believes that there is set to be a middle ground when it comes to Rafa Benitez and extending his Newcastle contract.

He says that a few months ago he would have said that there was no chance of Rafa Benitez agreeing any contract extension.

The Sky Sports man though says that now he does confidently believe that there are talks underway for Mike Ashley to sell Newcastle United, and because of that, Rafa Benitez would be willing to sign a short-term extension, probably for one more season (up to end of 2019/20), whilst a sale of the club is hopefully completed.

Keith Downie:

“Nothing to say that Peter Kenyon, if he does complete his takeover, would want Rafa Benitez to stay as manager.

“We don’t know that.

“I think a lot of supporters and anyone watching Newcastle, had seen how well Benitez is revered on Tyneside, just expect him to remain as manager.

“We don’t know, Peter Kenyon might have his own man lined up.

“Obviously the Newcastle fans wouldn’t want that, of course his contract is up at the end of the season.

“The longer time goes on, I am of the belief that Benitez may sign a short-term deal.

“If you had asked me this question at the start of the season I would have said no chance, he’s gone in the summer.

“But because talks are underway, there is a chance of this happening, I would not be surprised if perhaps Benitez signed a one year deal to try and see it through, whilst these takeover talks are on the go.

“And then Kenyon, or whoever takes over, will take it from there.

“I would not be surprised.

“I would be surprised if he signed a long-term deal, I wouldn’t be surprised no if he signed some kind of short-term deal, whilst all this uncertainty is going around in the background.”

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks