Rafa Benitez has admitted that talks with Newcastle United about his future are now officially underway.
Toon chiefs have been handed a revised list of requests from Benitez on what he feels will help transform the club from annual relegation battlers into a team pushing for the top eight.
Benitez was far from happy with reports that his representatives, including lawyer Richard Green, had sat down in Manchester to talk about a move to France and Ligue 1.
But he insists rather than him waiting to talk to Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley, the ball is firmly in the court of the powers that be.
When asked if conversations had taken place, Benitez told the Chronicle: "Yeah.
"Lee (Charnley) was talking with my people and now we are waiting."
Reports about Benitez speaking to an agency which fixes managerial moves with French clubs went viral on Thursday night.
But Benitez said: "The reality is that I was not at any meeting because I was here and I left the training ground at 7pm or 8pm in the evening.
"The only club I am talking about my future with at the moment is Newcastle United.
"I am waiting.
"I have had some conversations and I am waiting for the answers."
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