When Rafael Benitez was leaving Valencia, one of his complaints at the Spanish club was a lack of spending, or at least a lack of spending he was happy with.
Famously saying he’d asked the club for a table and they instead bought him a lamp, Benitez made his annoyance public and it wasn’t the last time the manager was open about transfer frustrations.
It’s been the case at Newcastle United and as Benitez steers the club to Premier League safety, there’s now repeated murmurs in Spain he could then leave, unhappy with the direction the club have been going in.
A couple of weeks ago Marca linked Benitez with taking over at Real Sociedad, and in 
their Saturday edition the Spanish newspaper double down on that.
It’s claimed Benitez is now Real Sociedad’s favourite, and the Newcastle manager is willing to listen to the club’s offer and plans.
Any timing for an exit is said to be clear for Benitez, as soon as Premier League safety is guaranteed for Newcastle, he’ll listen to what the club has to say about the future, but he’ll also lend an ear to Real Sociedad.
