This has always been more about the club than either manager or player to me.
It happens Benitez doesn't see him as crucial. I don't agree, but I get it. So it makes it easier to move James on in that sense. Also, I will say I truly believe James would rather not be here. But, he clearly wasn't that desperate or eager and by some accounts, isn't now. In fact, if talks are still ongoing, and he's been in Qatar for two days now, it would seem they aren't straightforward at all.
What I have issue with is the vitriol directed towards the player and it's been fuelled by media outlets that have pretty much become fanzines at times.
Players and managers fall out. I've been guilty of blaming Benitez but really my anger is with the club now, because if you move out any player when you can't bring them in, and it's a player of James' quality and you're simultaneously getting done by a Championship side when you've not won a pot for quarter of a century, then in my book questions need to be asked.