Benitez to stay and he wants City pair

RAFA BENITEZ is plotting a double swoop on Manchester City to kickstart his £100million revamp of Newcastle after committing his future to the club.

The Spaniard met Mike Ashley yesterday to map out the 2017-18 campaign and was delighted to hear that Newcastle’s owner will give him ‘every last penny’ to ensure the club’s return to the Premier League does not disappoint.

Benitez has been lining up targets since Newcastle won the Championship on Sunday and he has held talks with Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain about Brazil midfielder Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala, the France defender.

Fernando is a peripheral figure under Pep Guardiola and has only made 12 appearances in the Premier League this season. He has two years remaining on his deal, and with Guardiola well stocked for midfielders, City will not stand in the 29-year-old’s way.

Mangala, 26, is also surplus to requirements at the Etihad and has spent this season on loan at Valencia, who have not triggered their option to make his stay permanent. City will look to recoup a significant chunk of the £42m they paid Porto for Mangala in 2014.

Ashley, speaking after meeting Benitez and managing director Lee Charnley, said: ‘I’ve confirmed to Rafa and Lee that they can have every last penny the club generates through promotion, player sales and other means in order to build for next season.’

Until recently Benitez’s future at St James’ Park had been in the balance, but any concerns he harboured about Newcastle’s ambition were allayed yesterday.

Benitez said: ‘ I’m pleased with how the meeting went and the positive approach we are all taking together to build on what we have started this season.

‘There will be challenges ahead, of course, and the summer will not be easy. But the hard work has been going on for some time and we can now continue positively with the development of the squad.’

A Newcastle statement added: ‘Plans for next season were discussed, including the purchase and loan of players in readiness for the Premier League season.’