No decisions yet on loan trio’s future

RAFA Benitez is yet to decide whether Newcastle United will make a permanent move for any of their three loan signings - though he has hintedt Martin Dubravka will remain on Tyneside long term.

The Magpies recruited Dubravka, winger Kenedy and striker Islam Slimani on loan in January.

Kenedy has impressed on Tyneside and, though Benitez would like to extend the Brazilian’s stay, Newcastle must wait to learn what Chelsea’s long-term plans are for the winger.

The Magpies would be interested in taking the 22-year-old on a season-long loan deal if they are priced out of a permanent move for Kenedy, the Blues wanting £20million plus for the winger.

Slimani, meanwhile, has endured a disappointing loan spell at St James’ Park.

After missing two months with injury, the Algeria international managed just 131 minutes of football before a retrospective suspension for violent conduct ruled him out of United’s final three games.

The 29-year-old has asked to continue training at Newcastle’s Benton Training Centre until the end of the campaign and, though a permanent move for the Leicester City forward appears highly unlikely, Benitez is adamant a final decision has yet to be made on Slimani’s long-term future.

Interestingly, Benitez also stressed he is yet to determine which other members of his Magpies squad will remain into next season and which he will look to sell during the summer.

The Spnaiard said: “We have not made a final decision about Slimani’s future - but we have not made a final decision about anyone’s future.

“We have two games to play and what we want to do is finish these games, then after that we will think about all the players’ futures.”

While United need to negotiate with Chelsea if they want to keep Kenedy (pictured) for next season, the same does not apply to Dubravka. United paid an initial £1.8million loan fee to take the goalkeeper from Czech club Sparta Prague in January.

But a £4m optionto-buy clause was also inserted into the deal.