Rafa Benitez wants future sorted at Newcastle ASAP regardless of £350m takeover talks

RAFA BENITEZ wants to get his Newcastle future sorted – regardless of takeover talks.

The Toon manager’s contract expires in a month’s time and he has been left in limbo since he discussed a new deal with owner Mike Ashley in London on May 16.

Ashley has kept Benitez stalling as he has been in negotiations to sell Newcastle to Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as revealed by SunSport on Sunday.

But Benitez is desperate to know where he stands so he can start planning for next season, whoever might own the club.

A short-term stay at St James’ Park has been talked about with Ashley depending on promises regarding recruitment.

While Sheikh Khaled is understood to want to keep Benitez if he takes control on Tyneside.

But representatives of the Dubai-based billionaire have made no contact with the Spaniard despite having agreed terms of a £350million takeover with Ashley.

SLOW ACTIVITY

Benitez was keen to resolve his future as soon as the campaign was over so he could hit the ground running in the transfer market.

He has previously bemoaned Newcastle’s slow activity in the summer, which has seen them miss out on targets and then end up playing catch-up towards the later stages of the window.

And Benitez already fears a repeat this off-season given he is still no clearer as to whether he will be in charge next term as we reach the end of May.

The Magpies manager has submitted a list of transfer targets and wants the flexibility to sign older players – against the current club policy of buying stars aged 26 or under.

Benitez is desperate to sign striker Salomon Rondon from West Brom and would also want Newcastle to try and take Juan Mata from Manchester United.

But he also has plans in place should the Toon be taken over and he suddenly has a bigger transfer kitty.