Rafa Benítez has had no response from Newcastle United three weeks after telling the club’s hierarchy what it will take to keep him at St James’ Park beyond the end of this season.

At Newcastle’s request, the manager submitted a wishlist in the week before their Premier League fixture at Arsenal on April 1, in the expectation that they would form the basis of contract negotiations. As of last night, he was still awaiting a reply, causing Benítez to seek clarification from the club; with only four games still to play, the clock is ticking.

Benítez, the former Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager, who celebrated his 59th birthday yesterday, is out of contract this summer when his three-year stay on Tyneside is