MX23RW : Friday, December 7 23:23:32
Dec 9, 2018 at 4pm UK at ​St James' Park
NewcastleNewcastle United
vs.
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers

Benitez thanks Newcastle fans for support as planned boycott is called off

Benitez thanks Newcastle fans for support as planned boycott is called off
© Reuters
The Magpies face Wolves on Sunday amid takeover speculation.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has thanked the club's fans for their support after a planned boycott was called off amid hope of a takeover deal being struck.

Tyneside has been plunged into a fresh frenzy of speculation since owner Mike Ashley revealed on Monday that he is in advanced talks over a sale and wants it done by the end of the month.

With four interested parties understood to have tabled bids in excess of £300million, there is hope that Ashley's controversial 11 and a half-year reign could soon draw to a close.

With prospective buyers certain to be keeping a close eye on proceedings at St James' Park, calls for spectators to stay away from Sunday's live televised Premier League clash with Wolves have been withdrawn.

Benitez said: "You have been asking me in a lot of press conferences about that, and I have to say thank you to the fans because my message has been very clear all this time.

"This group of players, they deserve support because they work so hard until the last minute in every game that I think it's fair for them.

"If the fans appreciate that, then they want to support the team in the way that they were supporting before, but even more because everybody will be even more focused on not wasting too much time with these questions and answers and if it is affecting the team or not.

"I think it will be good, it will be positive and hopefully we can get three points and everybody will be happy."

If fans have alternated between scepticism and optimism since Ashley's revelation, Benitez has remained diplomatically reticent on the subject.

In the meantime, he and his staff will continue to focus on games and preparations for the forthcoming January transfer window whoever is at the helm.

To that end, he has been linked with an interest in Atlanta United's Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron, although the MLS club's president Darren Eales has dismissed as "laughable" suggestions that the player could join Newcastle either on loan or for as little as £15million.

Asked about Eales' comments, Benitez said: "We don't talk about players. If we make an offer, they will know, we will know and not necessarily the press will know. At the moment, there is no news and we carry on with the players that we have trying to do our best for the next game."


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Rafael Benitez gestures during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and West Ham United on December 1, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1513204573841
2Liverpool1512303062439
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs15110428161233
4Chelsea1594231131831
5Arsenal1594234201431
6Everton156542117423
7Bournemouth157262522323
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd156542425-123
9Leicester CityLeicester156452118322
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156361921-221
11Watford156271821-320
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves155461518-319
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372023-318
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle153481220-813
15Crystal Palace153391120-912
16Cardiff CityCardiff1532101430-1611
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield152491026-1610
18Southampton151681329-169
19Burnley1523101432-189
20Fulham1523101536-219

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