Hammers still have sights set on Benitez

NEWCASTLE United manager Rafa Benitez remains a “target” for West Ham United – with David Moyes “unlikely” to remain at the London Stadium beyond the end of the season, according to a report.

The Spaniard insists he is “happy” on Tyneside, though he did give mixed messages about his long-term Newcastle future last month.

Benitez refused to state whether he would be at St James’ Park next season on six separate occasions during a Press conference in January, though he did also hint that he would be receptive to renewing his United contract as long as the Magpies secured reinforcements and then survived this term.

With Mike Ashley keen to sell the Magpies, uncertainty remains over who will own the club next season – and that, allied with the United manager’s obvious frustration with how Newcastle have conducted their transfer business over the last three windows, has cast doubt over Benitez’s long-term future at St James’ Park.

According to a report in The Telegraph, current Hammers boss Moyes is unlikely to remain in situ at the east London club beyond the end of the current campaign – regardless of whether he leads them to survival or not.

Benitez – who came within hours of joining West Ham during the summer of 2015 after verbally agreeing to become their manager, only for his boyhood club Real Madrid to make a late offer for his services – remains admired by the Hammers’ hierarchy, with who he still enjoys a positive relationship, and it is claimed they may yet try to tempt the Spaniard away from Newcastle this summer.

Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner and former Watford boss Marco Silva are also named in the report as likely candidates for the role.

Newcastle are keen to extend Benitez’s contract, which expires at the end of next season, because the club view the Spaniard as being crucial to any potential sale of the club.

Although United approached Benitez last month in a bid to initiate talks over a new deal, he asked for discussions to be postponed until Newcastle’s Premier League future becomes clearer.