“In an ideal world he sells it to some ambitious billionaire who can see the potential of the club and chucks £250m at a very good manager and they move forward. I would just hold a little bit of caution as to who it might be because we’ve seen problems at big clubs like Nottingham Forest, Leeds, the list goes on, who have had changes of hands.
“If he sells it to somebody who buys it to move it forward and bring them back to the top table, then it would be great. It’ll take time. I think you need two top players in every position and they haven’t got anywhere near that, It is still a long, long way off. What Benitez is getting out of that squad at the minute is phenomenal and I think a lot of fans would take 17th if you offered them it now.”