Rafa ‘would like to stay for up to 10 years with Newcastle’
BOSS SEES POTENTIAL IN THE CLUB
Chief NUFC Writer RAFA Benitez has revealed he would ideally like to stay at Newcastle United for up to 10 years – if the conditions of a contract extension are right.
The Toon boss says he has held faceto-face talks with Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley earlier this summer but will revisit his contract situation “later” with the club hierarchy.
When asked about his future and contract situation, Benitez – speaking at the Foundation Cup event – said: “No, it’s fine. We spoke about the future and the possibilities, that’s it.
“I said that we have to see how things are going and then we can sit down later on and discuss that.
“I’d like to stay here for five years or 10 years if it’s possible because I can see the potential, the fans and the city. Everybody (needs to be) pushing in the right direction.
“But we have to do things like I imagine has to be done in a football club.”
Benitez also confirmed he’d told Ashley his thoughts, he added: “Yeah I was talking to him in the summer – face to face. It was fine. But we are still where we are.”
With three summer additions on board in Kenedy, Ki Sung-yueng and Martin Dubravka signed up Benitez is now aiming to bring in a striker.
Both Alassane Pléa and Salomón Rondón are on the wanted list for United, but Benitez is keeping his cards close to his chest.
He said: “We can’t talk about players at the moment. We are just working and trying to get closer to some players. “It depends on so many things and we can’t say too much.” Much may depend on outgoing deals this summer with Aleksandar Mitrovic expected to be sold to Fulham while FC Porto are still trying to tie up a deal for Chancel Mbemba. Mbemba has not trained with United this summer and Benitez has called up youngster Josef Yarney to the first team squad. When asked about Mbemba, Benitez said: “Yeah we have some clubs interested but still no news. At the moment he is not here.” Benitez is keen to get business done but insisted that the earlier deadline to this year’s transfer window should not be used as an excuse for a lack of business. What could also prove to be a problem for United is the fact that even after August 9, overseas clubs can still swoop for some of his players until the end of the month. He said: “It is difficult because the prices have gone very high for everyone. Some people say, ‘Oh the deadline is the problem.’ It’s not. “If you are ready and you do what you have to do there is plenty of time. “It’s just to be sure when you go for a player you make sure you sign him. “You don’t want to waste too much time so you know more or less then you go (for it) and that’s it.” Martin Dubravka is one of three additions so far this summer