Reliable journalist provides update on Newcastle senior man after reports he could quit
By Will Butcher
Rafa Benitez has no intention of leaving Newcastle in the near future, according to a reliable journalist.
The Daily Mail claimed on Thursday night that the Spaniard’s future at St. James’ Park was in doubt, after becoming frustrated that the Toon’s hierarchy did not back him in the January window.
However, Evening Chronicle correspondent Lee Ryder revealed on his personal Twitter account that Benitez would not be leaving the north east and is focused on gaining promotion.
Benitez was believed to be irritated by owner Mike Ashley’s refusal to complete a deal for England international Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace, in a spectacular move that would have seen him return to Tyneside after leaving just six months ago.
Benitez was hoping that his board would add to his squad in the January transfer window in order to kick start his side’s promotion campaign, after suffering a run of indifferent form.
The Magpies currently lie in second in the Championship table, one point behind Chris Hughton’s Brighton after the Seagulls lost 3-1 to Huddersfield on Thursday night.
Winning just three out of six league games as well as losing to League One side Oxford United 3-0 in the FA Cup, the Toon need to restart the kind of form that saw them blitz their Championship opponents by flying to the summit of the league.
With a contract until the summer of 2019, it remains to be seen how much of that contract the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss will see out.
In other Newcastle news, fans have reacted to Ayoze Perez’s performance against QPR on Wednesday night.
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