Rafa Benitez to West Ham: Newcastle boss demands £100m transfer kitty plus full control

RAFA BENITEZ has outlined his terms to become West Ham’s new manager: he wants a £100million budget, total control over transfers, and a £6m a year contract.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Rafa Benitez to West Ham: Newcastle boss demands £100m transfer kitty plus full control
Benitez wants to stay at Newcastle - but only if he’s satisfied the club can match his own ambitions

The Hammers have made Benitez their No 1 choice to replace David Moyes, while Russian giants Zenit St Petersberg have identified the 58-year-old as Roberto Mancini’s successor.

Both would be willing to meet the £6m buy-out clause in his contract, with the Hammers ready to make a formal approach given any encouragement from Benitez’ people.

Benitez wants to stay at Newcastle - but only if he’s satisfied the club can match his own ambitions.

And Newcastle so far have yet to convince him the two parties share the same goals.

Benitez has just 12 months left on his current deal and wanted his future resolved before the end of the season.

His representatives have been in talks with managing director Lee Charnley, acting on behalf of Ashley for several weeks, but little progress has been made.

The former Liverpool manager wants cast-iron assurances that he can spend what cash he is given how he likes.

Rafa Benitez to West Ham: Newcastle boss demands £100m transfer kitty plus full control
The Hammers have made Benitez their No. 1 choice to replace David Moyes

Ashley has said that he wants Benitez to stay, but the pair have not held face-to-face talks and there is a lack of trust on Benitez’s side after three botched transfer windows.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach has never previously walked out on a contract and would be loath to do so now.

But he feels the ball is firmly in Newcastle’s court and if they don’t accept his terms, it will prove to him they don’t want him to be in charge in the long-term.

While Benitez has a close relationship with Toon fans, being manager of a club content to finish mid-table year is not what he is looking for.

West Ham have also approached Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann but been told he is staying, while Manuel Pellegrini, currently at Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, has priced himself out of the running with demands for an £8.5m deal, on top of £5m compensation.

Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca and ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery have also had talks.