Toon Rafa bid short but sweet

NEWCASTLE will consider handing Rafa Benitez a one-year deal as a quick fix to their contract stand-off.

The Spaniard is in talks to extend his deal which ends in June.

The club wants Benitez to sign longterm so players he buys are settled and not discarded by a successor.

But time is short and Benitez, 59, (above) could be tempted by a one-year deal to see if the club live up to suggestions it will find at least £100million for new players over the next two seasons.

Benitez hinted yesterday he wants to stay in England. Daughter Agate is at school, two years from university.

Benitez said: “My daughters, one is at uni, the other will go to uni. That will be the time when we have to sit down and decide.”