Benitez preferring to build on Toon project despite link to Foxes
RAFA Benitez has already started to make some plans for NEXT season with Newcastle United.
The Toon chief - who watched his side take a big step towards Premier League safety with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town - is yet to have face-to-face talks with Mike Ashley or Lee Charnley but is committed to serious discussions about his next move.
Benitez is on Leicester City’s radar to take over from Claude Puel should the Foxes boss be axed after a poor season.
However, the Spaniard’s preferred choice would be to stay at St James’ Park and build something special over a long period - if Ashley and Charnley share that ambition.
As reported on Chroniclelive last week, United chiefs are keen to retain Benitez’s services as they know he maintains harmony on Tyneside.
However, he wants to see vision and ambition around the club as he feels a big project will be needed to transform Newcastle from perennial relegation fighters into a topeight outfit.
Much will depend on Benitez’s talks with Ashley but he has already shown a willingness to stay on behind the scenes.
Charnley and Benitez have already started to talk about next season with plans for preseason discussed and the Toon manager’s preferences for the summer being looked at.
Benitez has stayed at Ireland’s Carton House in the last three pre-seasons and is not keen for long-haul travel unless it benefits the club financially.
The manager has also started to draw up a long list of new players for next season.
Near the top of his wanted list, though, is the man United already have in their possession in Salomon Rondon.
Benitez and his board had a difference in opinion on Rondon last summer and he could cost United a big fee if he is to turn the loan from West Brom into a permanent deal.
However, the No 9 has now stated he wants to stay and Benitez will want to add four or five senior stars to his squad to join him.
Benitez’s talent- spotters have trips to Belgium, Spain, Italy and Germany planned over the next few months and, with more TV money to come, the United chief is expecting a reasonable kitty to spend if he stays.
Newcastle have been linked with Brazilian ace Joelinton but, with a price tag of £51m, fans are sceptical about the club’s chances of signing the Hoffenheim star.
However, we understand Joelinton is a player who has been watched extensively by Newcastle scouts in recent times - and Benitez does like the 22-year-old.
United chiefs have told Benitez there is money available to sign the right type of player but this would be a major change in thinking by Ashley given his previous track record.
For now, Benitez is only focusing on the game against Burnley on Tuesday night.
After the win over Huddersfield he said: “Everybody was expecting that we could win but maybe they were not expecting we could play well like today and create so many chances.
“However, the main thing was to get three points - we did it and now it is just carry on.
“Always I say the next game is the most important - it is like a final for us.
“Burnley are doing quite well, so we have to play with the same intensity as today and try to get three points in the next one and carry on.”