Confirmed - Rafa Benitez has received and rejected TWO offers from Mike Ashley - Report

The Chronicle have revealed that Rafa Benitez has received TWO separate contract proposals from Mike Ashley this summer - and he's rejected both, with the NUFC owner having offered a five-year deal and a one-year extension to the Spaniard.

The story states that 'neither contained all of the assurances' Benitez felt were necessary to take the club forward, with it looking as though he'll now wait to see how the club end the summer transfer window before making any more decisions on his future.

Fortunately, it seems certain that Benitez will stay for the final year of his contract - with the gaffer clearly keen to respect his current deal and not let down the fans - however his future beyond that seems in serious doubt, with Ashley continuing to mess him around in the transfer market.

Here's what the Chronicle have had to say on the matter, revealing Ashley's TWO contract offers earlier this summer.

'Newcastle United made two contract offers to Rafa Benitez during the close season - but neither contained all of the assurances the former Liverpool boss feels are needed to take the club forward.

'Benitez isn’t concerned about personal fortune but does want solid pledges on recruitment and also wanted to make changes to the Academy and Under-23 set-up.

'Newcastle first offered a five-year deal to Benitez but United and the Spaniard’s representatives couldn’t come to an agreement after some requests weren’t granted.

'It is believed that a one-year extension - around the time Benitez was offered the caretaker job with Spain at the World Cup - was then pushed the 58-year-old’s way but the Toon boss felt there was little point in a short-term solution at the club.'

Ashley's playing a dangerous game if he really think he can mess Benitez about yet still expect him to commit his long term future at the club.

The worst part is, Benitez clearly wants to be here - and even admitted last week that he'd see himself staying for 'five or ten years' - however you get the feeling we'll be lucky to have him in another 10 months if Ashley doesn't sell up or seriously change his ways.