Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United if he cannot accept an initial £60million transfer budget which could turn into a potential £100million with player sales, according to journalist Luke Edwards.
The Telegraph reporter, who is one of the most revered writers covering the Magpies, claimed on his Twitter account that owner Mike Ashley will not be dipping his hand into his pocket and any money heading the Spaniard’s way will be what the club makes or already has in the coffers.
It does progress them. With player sales you’re looking at around £100m potentially this summer. It has to be gradual. Rafa needs to be realistic as well. Ashley won’t give him money, it’s money the club has. Simple maths I’m afraid. If that’s not good enough, then he goes. https://t.co/MXjNQV7I7n
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) April 20, 2019
He called the situation “simple maths” and made the stark warning to the Newcastle faithful that if Benitez cannot accept that then he will be out the door, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Opinion
Unfortunately for the Toon Army Edwards has his the nail on the head. Newcastle are a club ran by a man who has no intentions of putting his own money into it as the Sports Direct supremo looks for a way out of St James’ Park. The only way Benitez will get anything more than the £60million – which comes from the likes of the Premier League’s television deal – to spend is if he manages to shift some players out the door on Tyneside, which could be a task easier said than done after some bang average displays from the fringe figures in the squad. Will the supposed £60million be enough for the Spaniard? That is not a bad number for the Magpies to spend this summer – they could certainly bring in some quality with that money – but it depends if Benitez feels he can achieve his goals on that sort of budget.