Another day, another Rafa Benitez rumour, this time from Serie A side AS Roma, who are said to be considering the Spaniard for their manager’s job this summer.
With still no end in sight for the protracted contract negotiations at Newcastle, these rumours will persist, until eventually one comes along that turns Rafa’s head.
Gazetta dello Sport in Italy claim that Benitez is one of to non-Italian managers that have been offered to the Roman side – the other being Laurent Blanc – after their first choice, Gian Piero Gasperini, decided to stay with Atalanta.
How much longer must Newcastle fans endure this farcical situation?
Movement needs to be made on the contract talks, and it needs to be made quickly. Transfers are going through at clubs up and down the country, yet Newcastle cannot even get an agreement with a manager who is desperate to stay.
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As speculation mounts over a potential takeover, it may be that the club see those talks as being the immediate priority. But that should not be the case.
Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley need to realise that Newcastle United is a more valuable asset with the Spaniard on board.
Every group that has allegedly approached the club regarding a potential takeover has said that they want Benitez to be the manager. That speaks volumes.
It should spell out to Ashley and Charnley that tying Rafa down to the club makes them more attractive to buyers. As a result, they should be pulling out all the stops to get a deal agreed with him immediately.
It should not be too difficult. Give him the vast majority of the concessions he is asking for, and if the club is sold, it will not affect them anyway.
But Newcastle logic does not work that way. Instead, we have this stand-off, with Charnley using his usual – and only – negotiating tactic of trying to squeeze every ounce of take, with a minimum of give to get a deal done.
But like the deal for Rondon, the longer they drag this out for, the more likely they are to lose their man.