Supporter fears that Rafa Benitez will walk out of Newcastle United or be sacked before the season starts are unjustified but tension continues to rise at St James’ Park after a summer of discontent on Tyneside.

Benitez’s extraordinary midweek press conference following defeat against Braga laid the frustrations of Newcastle’s transfer window bare as the United boss effectively put the onus on the United board and Lee Charnley to explain why the club has made a net profit in a summer transfer window that was preceded by promises from the owner to make “every penny generated” available for recruitment.

It has been noted by the hierarchy and will further widen the divide between club bosses and Benitez, who firmly believes that there should be money available to bring in the four players he wants to sign before Thursday.

But he will not resign and United will not force the issue either – which means that the pressure on Charnley to broker deals will ramp up in the final days of a deeply unimpressive summer from Newcastle.

Benitez would face a hefty financial penalty if he walked out but even if he did not, his pledge to see out his contract – made earlier in the summer – is one he takes seriously. Although he has been frustrated by the terms of the contract he agreed two years ago – so much so that he has parted company with his agent – he will honour it. But instead of trying to build on the tenth-placed finish he will work with what he has and operate in a similar way to last season, calling a truce when the recruitment period is over and looking to focus minds on the job ahead.

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Whether it will be as simple this season is another matter. The formation of a new supporter group – the Magpie Group – stands a lightning conductor for possible demonstrations against Ashley next season and the prospect of Benitez walking in the close season may make the spectre of protest an ever-present theme next year.

In the meantime United are continuing to work on transfers. Benitez wants a target man, a left-back and a number ten – as well as a defender to cover for Florian Lejeuene – but fears the time it takes United to broker deals will leave him short-handed once again.

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He’s also frustrated at the way talk of a swap deal for Dwight Gayle has unsettled a number nine he may now need to rely on. Gayle and Matt Ritchie, another player linked with a move away, are likely to be key players in the side next year.

(Image: PA)

An unsigned bonus schedule – which has been an ever-present theme at United under Ashley, and was unsigned in the first weeks of last season – is another factor frustrating the playing staff.

Newcastle have been linked with Stanley N’Soki, the teenage Paris Saint Germain left-back, and have been quoted £7million.

But there is no interest in Lyon striker Myziane Maolida, who was linked to Newcastle in L’Equipe on Thursday, or Isaac Kiese Thelin – the Anderlecht striker who United were reported to have bid £5million for in the Belgian press.

Late loan deals may now be United’s best bet of bringing in players and Leicester’s Islam Slimani – who had an injury-plagued loan spell – remains on the market. Danny Ings’ valuation of £20million has put off suitors so far but whether or not he will be made available for a loan move is another market mover United will be monitoring.

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Part of the problem is that Benitez has not been able to ascertain the size of his budget all summer. What he does know now is that his hopes of securing funds for the Academy and training ground have fallen on deaf ears and that the campaign ahead will once again see survival in the Premier League placed above everything else.

It was not lost on Benitez that he fielded 10 players against Braga who played in the Championship for him.