North-East reporter reveals Rafa’s latest transfer demand after Ashley’s £70m promise

According to the the Mirror’s Simon Bird, Rafa Benitez is now demanding ‘written guarantees’ over his future transfer budgets and power at the club – having been ‘let down’ by ‘verbal agreements’ over the last year.

Simon Bird, the Mirror’s reporter for the North-East, claims that the Spaniard has now been offered a new deal by the club, however he is only willing to sign it if he gets the necessary assurances – and this one would protect him against Ashley’s infamous false promises.

His piece claims that Benitez struck a ‘verbal agreement’ with NUFC officials last summer, agreeing to have £70m to spend over the THREE transfer windows to come (2017-2018), however he was left ‘let down’ when his early-summer targets were not signed’ (presumably the likes of Abraham and Caballero?).

Here’s a snippet from the Mirror’s latest piece:

“Rafa Benitez is after written guarantees about his future transfer budget and powers.

“Sources claim Benitez and Newcastle struck a verbal agreement around a year ago which gave him around £70million to spend over three transfer windows.

“But he then felt let down when his early-summer targets were not signed, and wants to firm up the club’s ambition before signing afresh.

“Benitez’s representatives are continuing their talks with Newcastle this week.”

It seems totally plausible that Rafa would want written assurances over his budget and power at the club, but one thing that doesn’t add up is the Mirror’s claim that he agreed to a £70m budget across three windows (summer 2017, January 2018 and summer 2018).

Despite having a very poor window, we spent just over £40m last summer, so that would mean we’d have little over £30m to spend this summer if that was the case. Seems unlikely that Rafa would agree to that? Or does this explain why we resorted to loans in January? I doubt it.

Written assurances sounds like the way forward, but, with Benitez and NUFC officials locked in future talks, let’s hope Ashley agrees to it.

Knowing what he’s like, I have my doubts he will – but it’s a smart and expected move from Rafa before he’ll commit to any new deal.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

4 thoughts on “North-East reporter reveals Rafa’s latest transfer demand after Ashley’s £70m promise

  1. 40 million wasn’t the net spend , so something is wrong somewhere , benitez won’t be here long if that’s correct , we have a net spend of 4.49 million under the tenure of Ashley , buttons to what has came in

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  2. Rafa’s got to be expecting at least 120 million, and get it written in his contract.
    Anything less and it’s good luck in Italy Rafa.

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  3. Same old same old Ashley will not give a big transfer fund to rafa we will loose him for sure sell up and fook off fat ****

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  4. 100 million min plus what rafa gets selling players needed take us forward more the same in every window

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