Report: £30m-per-year deal to be offered to Newcastle senior man, talks planned
By Matt Farr
Two Chinese Super League clubs are looking to lure Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez to the Far East in the summer, according to a report.
The Mirror report that the unnamed duo are preparing a staggering £600,000-per-week salary to land the Newcastle chief, which would see him take home £30million-plus per year.
The offer would shatter the current record as the world’s highest-paid manager, with current Super League chief Andre Villas-Boas earning £11million-per-year with Shanghai SIPG.
Carlos Tevez is currently the world’s highest-paid player, having secured an astonishing £632,000-per-week deal with Shanghai Shenhua in December, and Benitez’s salary would be on par with the former Premier League man.
The long-term future of Benitez at Newcastle has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, after Benitez failed to land any of his transfer targets during the January window.
The Spaniard is understood to have grown frustrated at the lack of backing from the Newcastle hierarchy last month, in particular at the failure to re-sign Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace.
Benitez is believed to be set to consider his role at the club at the end of the season, and could quit even if Newcastle win their place back in the Premier League.
The Mirror report that Benitez is focused on securing promotion, but he is keen for talks with owner Mike Ashley at the end of the season.
With his future in Tyneside up in the air, the Chinese Super League duo are both hoping to tempt him away with the offer of an unlimited transfer budget.
He is also, however, believed to be on the radar of several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.
The Gunners are starting to investigate life beyond current chief Arsene Wenger, with his current contract set to expire in the summer.
In other Newcastle transfer news, Benitez has delivered his long-term verdict on this 22-year-old first-teamer.
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