Talks between Rafa Benitez & NUFC are over - Club await decision after final offer - Report
According to the Chronicle, talks between Newcastle and Rafa Benitez have now concluded - and it's now up to the Spaniard to decide whether he will agree to the final terms offered.
The piece also states that Newcastle responded with "no comment" in response to Rafa's worrying interview in Madrid over the weekend, with him admitting he was unsure where he'd be in a few months and 'open' to other offers. This is typical of the club, with us also left in the dark about a potential takeover.
Here's a snippet from Lee Ryder's latest piece for the Chronicle, revealing that the club are now waiting for Benitez to get back to them with a final answer:
'Newcastle United have issued a "no comment" response to a potentially concerning interview from Rafa Benitez with the Italian media.
'In it, Benitez suggested that he was ready to listen to other offers and that he was unsure on his next move.
'Talks between Newcastle and Benitez are now believed to be concluded and it is now down to the former Liverpool boss to decide whether he can work with the terms offered.
It is understood that United are now waiting for Benitez to get back to him with a final answer.
His current deal runs out on June 30 and players are scheduled to return to training on July 4.
So, after several rounds of talks last month, it sounds like Mike Ashley and co. have now left Benitez to make his mind up after handing him a new contract offer with the best terms they are prepared to offer.
One part of the piece that worried me is this one - "The Magpies held talks with Benitez last month but after talk of a lack of improved terms they are awaiting an answer".
Unfortunately, that suggests to me that Ashley is not willing to compromise much, essentially handed Rafa a take it or leave it offer.
You'd like to think that's not true and Benitez does agree to a new deal - but the recent silence combined with the takeover confusion has hardly helped things.
For the third summer in a row, we wait patiently and live in hope.
