The Newcastle fans in the Transfer Tavern have been reacting to a story in The Daily Star that claims Leicester City are eyeing up Rafa Benitez as their next gaffer amid concerns over Claude Puel’s future. Leicester lost 5-0 to Crystal Palace on Saturday and there are rumours of unrest in the dressing room at the King Power Stadium.
LEICESTER CITY are lining up a summer swoop to bring Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez to the King Power Stadium. The future of current Foxes manager Claude Puel is in serious doubt following reports of dressing room unrest. [Daily Star] #NUFC
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) April 29, 2018
At the moment, any club in need of a manager could be throwing a glance at St James Park. Rafa Benitez has done a superb job in the Northeast, gaining promotion to the Premier League a the first time of asking before now leading the Magpies to a top-ten finish in their first year back in the top flight. The club is at a difficult point now though. Benitez wants reassurance from Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley that funds will be available as the Spaniard hopes to kick Newcastle on to the next level as a club.
Ashley has become notorious for failing to invest in the club and taking profits away from St James Park, leaving fans calling for him to sell up and allow them to move forward. With a new owner and new investment, there’s no telling what Benitez could do with the club. This season has seen the Geordies record impressive wins over Manchester United and Arsenal at St James park despite the club having one of the division’s smallest budgets. Newcastle fans will want to see Benitez stay at the club at all costs, although it’s yet to be seen where his future lies.
With that in mind, here’s our local Magpies’ verdict on the Rafa rumours:
1). It’s the Daily Star which means it’s already not true.
2). He would need time and patience from the owners which he wouldn’t get because they tend sack managers of a string of bad results.
3). He’s already in the process of building something at NUFC so why would he leave.— Benjamin McGee (@BenjaminMcGee98) April 29, 2018
All depends on who our owner is
— Jon (@JonnyBWoode) April 29, 2018
This will be a disaster if the club lose rafa over lack of funds we have to release money for him to improve squad
— Dave (@shields_dave) April 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/BarryBlakely/status/990663328417615872
Leicester may want him, but I'd say Rafa would have bigger clubs after his signature than them, if he doesn't get want he wants from Ashley.
— Brady (@Brady1892) April 29, 2018
That club is more unstable than us and the players have lobbied to have the manager sacked on two occasions. Whilst there is a strong possibly that Rafa will go because he doesn’t get the assurances he wants it won’t be Leicester IMO.
— James Johnson OBE (@JimJohnsonOBE) April 29, 2018
Never gonna happen unless they offer an absolute and I mean an absolute stupid amount of money, Rafa gets us. Their fan base only doubled after their league winning season , 50% of their fans were Man U , Chelsea , Liverpool , Arsenal and Man City fans before that
— Mossy #24 (@MrBiggerexia) 29 April 2018
https://twitter.com/histonadam85/status/990659262115450880
