Rafa Benitez’s future at Newcastle United is in jeopardy over concerns the promises made to him by owner Mike Ashley are not going to be kept.

Benitez has no intention of walking out in the middle of the season, but will reassess his position in the summer and could quit if he does receive assurances from Ashley over the extent of the club’s ambition.

The Spaniard, who has not spoken directly to Ashley for months, was alarmed by Newcastle’s failure to sign anyone in the January window, even though he agreed a list of targets with managing director Lee Charnley and believed there was money to spend.

Benitez was given full control of the football side of the business when he agreed to stay on as manager following relegation from the Premier League last year, but is worried that may no longer be the case because his demands were ignored in January.

If he does not retain that power, or is not given the financial backing he expects should he return Newcastle to the top flight in May, the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager will question whether it is worth staying.