Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that he is in talks wit the club about extending his contract.
The Spaniard is currently out of contract at St James’ Park in 2019 and there is widespread reports about his future.
However, the 58-year-old has revealed that he’s holding negotiations with the Magpies about extending his stay and claimed that the club have tabled a fresh deal to remain “for a few more years”.
“My future? I’ve heard so much talk, but I haven’t spoken to [Napoli chairman] Aurelio de Laurentiis: I have a contract with Newcastle, I’m talking to them about my renewal,” Benitez told Italian publication CalcioNapoli 24.
“They made me some offers to stay here for a few more years, plus I have to manage my family: if I decided to go to Newcastle and stay there, even in the Championship, it’s also because of my family.
“My priority is to stay in England. I’m only talking to Newcastle right now.”
OPINION
Newcastle fans will be desperate to hear some good news comes from Benitez’s talks with the board and the ideal scenario would be for them to fully back him in the upcoming summer transfer window. Owner Mike Ashley claimed in the wake of the club’s final game of the Premier League season that every penny generated will be made available for the Spanish boss and that he wants him to remain at St James’ Park. However, supporters feel they have had the same script before and won’t believe it until it happens. The Magpies have a top-class manager at the helm right now and it’s imperative he is given the opportunity to take the club forward. Newcastle’s current squad have played out of their skin to finish 10th in the league and there has to be considerable improvements made. They especially need to bring in a new frontline that can fire goals and a six-goal return of main centre-forward Dwight Gayle is not enough.
