MX23RW : Wednesday, March 12 13:42:00| >> :60:2287:2287:

Rafael Benitez 'on verge of Newcastle United exit'

Rafael Benitez 'on verge of Newcastle exit'
© Reuters
Rafael Benitez will reportedly leave Newcastle United at the end of the week when his current contract expires.

Rafael Benitez will reportedly leave Newcastle United in a week when his contract at the club comes to an end.

The Spaniard has been in charge at St James' Park since March 2016, during which time he has won the Championship title and guided the Magpies to successive finishes of 10th and 13th in the Premier League.

Benitez has refused to pen new terms with the club amid its ongoing ownership uncertainty, however, as Mike Ashley continues negotiations with several parties over a £350m takeover.

According to the Daily Mail, there has been "minimal progress in discussions at the end of the season" and Benitez is now "resigned to the fact that his time at the club is over given the longstanding inability to agree on how best to approach in the transfer market".

The newspaper adds that talks over a new deal are unlikely to even take place this week, meaning that his contract will simply expire on Sunday.

The former Liverpool manager has been made a lucrative offer by Chinese side Dalian Yifang, but he is expected to spurn their advances and instead wait for a new job to come up with an English side.

Ex-Birmingham City boss Garry Monk is the current bookmakers' favourite to replace Benitez at Newcastle.

ID:362808: cacheID:362808:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2447:
Written by
Neil Wilkes
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez watches his side take on Wolves on February 11, 2019
Read Next:
Rafael Benitez future still undecided amid Chinese Super League links
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!