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Jonathan White

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has been linked with a move from the English Premier League to the Chinese Super League.
In reports that first emerged in The Times, Benitez has reportedly been offered US$15.2 million per year to take the reins at Dalian Yifang.
If he accepted, then the 59-year-old would become the highest paid manager in the Chinese top flight, earning more than Fabio Cannavaro’s reported US$14 million per year.
The Wanda Group owned club have invested heavily in recent seasons with their biggest recruit of the last transfer window Marek Hamsik from Napoli.




Despite that, they sit 11th on the 16-team table and have lost six of their 13 games this season.
Current manager Choi Kang-hee took over from Bernd Schuster before the start of the season but has failed to get his team, which also includes highly rated Belgium international Yannick Carrasco, to perform. Carrasco has been linked with a return to Europe.

Sky Sports reported that the Spaniard is “considering” the offer from Dalian, which is reported to be worth somewhere between double and triple his present annual salary on Tyneside, where is he among the best paid managers in England.
However, with his current deal with the Premier League side ending on June 30, many are seeing this as a negotiating tactic with the club’s much-maligned owner Mike Ashley. Benitez turned down a contract offer last summer as he sought assurances over transfers from Ashley.
Now the millionaire businessman appears reluctant to sign a new deal with Benitez as he looks to offload the club to a new owner.

Dubai-based billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is in advanced talks with Ashley and it had been reported that the deal could be completed by the end of the month.
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague confirmed to the Newcastle Chronicle in April that Benitez had already rejected an approach from a Chinese club.
“I know for a fact that he has rejected at least two massive offers – and I mean massive offers – to make him one of the best-paid managers in the world. Those offers came from Saudi Arabia and China,” Balague said.

Reports as early as last Autumn said that Benitez had been offered the managerial role at Guangzhou Evergrande, which he turned down to stay with Newcastle. It has been suggested that he turned them down again earlier this year.
Newcastle fans have had their say on the reports via social media, with most dismissing a move to China out of hand. They clearly want Benitez to stay after his exploits on Tyneside.
Benitez took Newcastle to a 13th place finish in the Premier League last season.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss took Newcastle up from the Championship in 2017 and finished in 10th place on their return to the top flight.
He has also been linked with the vacant managerial role at another of his former clubs, Chelsea.


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Chinese Super League

Is Rafa Benitez moving to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang or staying at Newcastle United?

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has been offered millions to move to the Chinese Super League. Photo: AFP

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Newcastle United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 12, 2019 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their first goal with Miguel Almiron Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Everton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 9, 2019 Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez celebrates after the match with Ayoze Perez REUTERS/Scott Heppell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (C) remonstrates with Newcastle United's English midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (L), Newcastle United's Enlish midfielder Isaac Hayden (2L) and Newcastle United's Brazilian midfielder Kenedy the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 2, 2019. - Manchester United won the match 2-0. (Photo by Lindsey PARNABY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Liverpool - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - May 4, 2019 Liverpool's Divock Origi scores their third goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Chinese Super League: Wu Lei and Yannick Carrasco offer different takes on the visibility of football in China as transfer rumours link Arsenal and Bayern Munich

Espanyol’s Wu Lei during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol at the Camp Nou. Photo: AP

Wayne Rooney and Andres Iniesta shining at DC United and Vissel Kobe shows where Chinese Super League needs to look

Wayne Rooney scores from a free kick at Audi Field . Photo: Washington Post

After a European adventure with Atletico Madrid, Wanda wanders back home to Dalian to take a tilt at the Chinese Super League with Yifang

The Wanda Group is set for a return to the Chinese Super League after severing ties with La Liga side Atletico Madrid. Photo: Xinhua

Major football club acquisitions led by Chinese buyers Shopping spree SCMP Date May 19, 2016 Jun 8, 2016 Jun 10, 2016 Jul 14, 2016 Jul 21, 2016 Sep 15, 2016 Apr 13, 2017 May 17, 2017 Aug 14, 2017 Buyer Tony Xia Jiantong (chairman of Recon Group) Zhang Jindong (founder of Suning Commerce Group) Zheng Nanyan and Lee Chien (co-founders of 7 Days Group Holdings) Jiang Lizhang (NBA’s first Chinese minority owner) Fosun International (chaired by Guo Guangchang) Lai Guochuan (of Palm Eco-Town Development) Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux (headed by Chinese businessman Li Yonghong) Chinese brother and sister Dai Yongge and Dai Xiuli Gao Jisheng and daughter Nelly Gao Target Aston Villa (100%) Inter Milan (70%) OGC Nice (80%) Granada CF (98%) Wolves (100%) West Bromwich Albion (100%) AC Milan Reading FC (majority stake) Southampton (80%) Price £60m €270m Unknown €37m £45m £200m €740m Unknown £210m

Atletico Madrid players celebrate at the end of the Europa League Round of 32 second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Copenhagen at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on February 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Benjamin CREMEL

FILE PHOTO: Dalian Wanda Group's Wanda Plaza building is pictured in Beijing, China, May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

epa06551108 FC Copenhagen players attend their team's training session at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 February 2018. FC Copenhagen will face Atletico Madrid in their UEFA Europa League round of 32, second leg soccer match on 22 February 2018. EPA-EFE/RODRIGO JIMENEZ

Sport

Football

Spaniard’s contract with Premier League club ends on June 30
Fans confident he will stay having rejected Chinese overtures before


Fans confident he will stay having rejected Chinese overtures before.


English Premier League

Dalian Wanda Group

Is Rafa Benitez moving to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang or staying at Newcastle United?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Spaniard’s contract with Premier League club ends on June 30 Fans confident he will stay having rejected Chinese overtures before

Spaniard’s contract with Premier League club ends on June 30

Fans confident he will stay having rejected Chinese overtures before