Rafa Benitez backed to leave Newcastle United this summer

Rafa Benitez may have got Newcastle United promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt but the latest odds suggest it’s by no means a certainty that he’ll stick around.  

The Magpies gaffer is just 5/2 (from 5/1) to leave the Toon Army this summer with speculation already mounting about a potential head-to-head with owner Mike Ashley over transfer funds.

However, should Ashley grant Rafa the war chest he’s demanding there will be plenty of interest in which players the North East outfit will snap up.

In that regard, we’ve also opened betting on potential summer signings, with Jack Wilshere deemed most likely to head to St. James’ Park.

Arsenal’s on-loan midfielder is 5/1 to bolster Benitez’s survival bid with Newcastle 6/1 to stir up a hornet’s nest and poach defender Ben Gibson from neighbours Middlesbrough.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “We’ve opened betting on how the summer will pan out on Tyneside but at the moment the most likely mover looks set to be the manager. In terms of transfers in, we’ll be watching the Wilshere odds closely as plenty of punters fancy him to head to the Toon over China.”

Ladbrokes Latest Betting:

Newcastle Specials

Rafa Benitez to leave Newcastle this summer – 5/2

To sign for Newcastle this summer:

Jack Wilshere – 5/1

Ben Gibson – 6/1

Andros Townsend – 7/1

Ryan Shawcross – 9/1

Jamie Vardy – 10/1

Click here for the latest Newcastle Specials.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing