Rafa Benitez has denied any talk of a contract showdown with influential Toon star Matt Ritchie.
Ritchie woke up to headlines yesterday suggesting he had been told he has no future at Newcastle United with talk that a request for a new contract had been snubbed.
Benitez , however, insists no contract discussions with ANY senior player have taken place with him at this stage.
The United manager said: "I am not happy when I see stories about Ritchie as it's not true.
"It was not accurate or right.
"It can't be.
"If I don't know if I have a contract how can I tell him?"
Benitez made it clear about his own situation, too, and said that talks have not progressed in the last fortnight.
He added: "I finish my contract on June 30 and I am professional.
"I have a lot of things I want to do.
"I can't talk with people about my future when I don't know my own.
"I am focusing on getting the job done and getting three points against Southampton."
Benitez said that his discussions with United chiefs remain about his budget and how it can be spent.
He said: "Our conversations are about that.
"How much can we spend as other teams are spending a lot of money."
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