OPINION
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is on the verge of securing Premier League status for the club and they need to start rewarding him for his success.
The Spaniard is a highly successful manager and it seems unreasonable to expect him to stay around at St James’ Park forever if he is not financially backed.
He has done a brilliant job by helping the Magpies move seven points clear of the relegation places and done so with a fairly mediocre squad.
Newcastle need to back him in the summer transfer window and just as importantly they can’t allow the few key players currently in the squad to leave.
One player that they must keep at all costs is key defender and club captain Jamaal Lascelles, who is absolutely vital to Benitez’s plans.
The Telegraph reports that Tottenham are considering the 24-year-old as a possible replacement for Toby Alderweireld in the summer.
Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that Chelsea are preparing a £30million swoop for Lascelles at the end of the season.
The centre-back is clearly a highly-rated talent, but he is playing regular first-team football at Newcastle and they need to ensure he stays.
He has been one of the outstanding individuals this season and it would be no surprise if his departure was the final straw with Benitez.
The ideal scenario would see the English powerhouse remain in the defender for the foreseeable future, with Benitez given free reign by the club’s hierarchy to really improve the squad.
It really is shaping up to be a huge summer for the club and it could go one of two ways.