The Newcastle fans are treading carefully after reading a story in The Chronicle that claims Mike Ashley is set to give Rafa Benitez a new contract at St James Park, and then give him funds to spend in summer. For our local Magpies, this is too good to be true and has led to a number of them waiting to see it before they believe it.
NEW: #NUFC preparing new contract offer for Rafa – and then they'll give him money to spend in the summer! https://t.co/GYew10dW88
— The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) April 25, 2018
The Geordies propping our bar up would be over the moon if the reports turned out to be true. According to the story, Mike Ashley is relaxed over Benitez’s future at the club despite the fact the Spaniard only has 12 months left on his contract. The pair are yet to begin contract negotiations, although the club’s hierarchy believes they can keep Rafa happy with the promise of transfer funds for him to splash in the summer.
For finishing in mid-table, the Geordies are set to receive anywhere between £80 and £120 million for their troubles. Whilst that won’t all be reinvested into transfer funds, a fair portion of it should be given to the ex-Real Madrid and Chelsea boss. It should also be noted that Benitez will also get any money from player sales and with Aleksander Mitrovic looking likely to leave the Northeast for around £20 million, Newcastle fans could find themselves in the money in a few months time.
With that in mind, here’s our local Magpies’ verdict on their club’s latest update:
Ryder posted the same garbage last year.
He broke the news that rafa had 100 million to spend and we would break our transfer record. Fast forward 12 months and as expected none of this happened #nufc— Black cloud (@Blackcloud1603) April 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/dayveea1/status/989215464021790720
I'll believe that when I see it.
— Steven G (@gallowgatenufc1) April 25, 2018
season ticket renewals are due soon, so give me your money
— Rachel (@Scotiarota) 25 April 2018
Sure this happened last summer and it was lies
— antony (@ant_g1) 25 April 2018
https://twitter.com/1892JP/status/989436721778569217
Unless Ashley opens a bank account with X amount of £’s in it and gives RAFA full control of it I’ll not believe out the bloke says
— RUDDS (@ruddsx4) April 26, 2018
I’m sure Rafa is astute enough to get team matters and transfer budgets in place, in writing, before he signs any new contract.
— Arfur ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ Toon (@SirArfurDaley) April 25, 2018
