Many Newcastle supporters have been reacting on social media to a report by the Mirror, which stated that Rafa Benitez would be guaranteed a £100million transfer budget if he signs a new contract.
The boss is yet to agree on an extension to his current deal at St James’ Park, and could walk away from Tyneside come the end of June if no arrangement is made.
Benitez did hint at progress last week, though, when he was quoted ahead of the Liverpool game telling the assembled media that he had held a positive meeting with Managing Director Lee Charnley.
“I was talking with Lee Charnley this week, and we will let you know as soon as we have more news,” Benitez said. “We have had another talk. We’ll continue to talk.”
His claims also came after it was reported that he sought certain assurances as to what would be on offer in the transfer market, before he could sign another contract with the Magpies.
If the guarantee of £100million is appealing to Benitez, we could be set to see the Spaniard stick around for a little longer yet. However, the budget being reported by the Mirror would apply to the duration of a multi-year contract, and not a single window, but does not include any funds raised from player sales.
The Mirror also quote Benitez comparing managing a football club to running a Formula One car, noting that you don’t necessarily need £200million to bridge the gap to the front running outfits, so long as you invest in the right areas.
“If you look at Formula One, if you are at bends, you can fight. But in a straight line, they go past you,” he said. “You can be the best driver in the world, it doesn’t matter. So you drive in Monaco, where it’s bendy, then you have a chance.
“You can get to a certain level. After that, you cannot. Each [coach] has its own level of efficiency. It’s a question of doing things at the right moment and the right way.”
When it was later shared on Twitter that Benitez had been guaranteed a £100million war chest, this is how some of the fanbase reacted…
£100m over two seasons??? If that is the case there is no chance he signs. £25/transfer window is a joke.
— Zack Pensak (@ZPensakOFFICIAL) May 6, 2019
I read that as £100m for the two years, which is probably more likely.
— Jacob Jackman (@JakeJackmann) May 6, 2019
Tbh. That wouldn’t be bad at all. Despite it prob being lies. £50m transfer budget and player sales could work.
— David Vardy (@XVardy1) May 6, 2019
If he stays that means he gets enough to make him think he can compete. Will never be a huge number but could be enough for 7th if he gets to pick the players.
— Two Rash Challenges Podcast (@rash_podcast) May 6, 2019
Since when has Ashley kept a promise?
— paz (@ianparry9) May 7, 2019
The devil is in the detail. Plus he needs more than 2 years of proper investment to build a team that can compete.
— CK (@caomhanach) May 6, 2019
If you split that down to the 4 transfer markets over the next 2 seasons, that works out at £25 million per transfer market, this is not good enough for this club
— David Tait (@Davey176) May 6, 2019
If it’s for 2 seasons and 4 windows, £25 million plus any player sales. Could get a couple of decent players
— Luke Maskell (@AlmironsM) May 6, 2019
What Rafa is asking of the club is that when we need to do something we do it, no messing about. We don’t go into transfer negotiations with the intentions of being as adversarial as possible, we don’t drag a transfer out for four weeks over the sake of £5,000 extra in wages.
— Matt Brown (@MattJB8818) May 6, 2019
Spent 25 million on Murphy and Muto
— Dave Douglas (@kingkauto1) May 6, 2019