Become top-six challengers once again

2002-03, said: “I can understand 100% why someone would want to buy this club.

“It’s not my job to talk about things too much, because I don’t have the information.

“But, generally, it’s very clear the club has the potential to be one of the top sides. For me, it’s a club that has to be in the top six, or the top eight, easily.

“I have heard some people criticising the north- east, but I think there is great potential. That’s because it’s the only club in this city and it’s so big.

“People say this club does not produce players at academy level, but that’s not true. We have so many kids around the city who love football and would be really pleased to be in a top side like this. And I think you can attract anyone here.

“At Napoli, where I was the manager, it’s similar to Newcastle because everybody in Naples supports Napoli. Here, everybody supports Newcastle. It’s quite positive and quite unique.

“It wouldn’t be fair for me to rank the clubs that I have managed, because I was so pleased to work for the majority of them.

“If you’re in the Premier League and you’re a top-eight club, you can end up in Europe – in the Champions League or the Europa League.

“But, obviously, you have to go one step at a time. If we do the right things at the right time, I think we have the potential to be in the top eight or top six – and go into Europe.

“It’s a great opportunity, but it doesn’t depend on me. If I am here, it’s because I see the massive potential. My job is to concentrate on what we can do now and to ensure the club stays in the Premier League. Then it will be easier to attract anyone.’’

Benitez was asked whether he would buy a football club if he had £300m to spare.

And the 58- year- old former Liverpool and Chelsea boss admitted he would fancy taking an interest in “a small club’’ one day.

That might excite League Two Tranmere Rovers, Benitez’s local club on the Wirral, near his family home.

He said: “I’m still a manager and I like to manage – I don’t want to own any club. But, in the future – because I don’t have that amount of money – I would like to be, maybe, involved in a small club who I could give advice.’’

Spaniard Benitez comes up against a Portuguese coach today in Wolves’ Nuno Espirito Santo after Newcastle drew 1- 1 with Everton’s Marco Silva at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Benitez said: “I know Nuno, I met him when he was at Valencia.

“He’s a good manager and he has a good team.’’

Meanwhile, Benitez is unconcerned about reports Juventus are keen on Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka. He said: “It’s good news for us if he continues attracting interest. It means he’s doing well.’’