Report: Newcastle want Benitez to pen three-year deal within six weeks

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Newcastle United reportedly hope to have Rafa Benitez’s future resolved in the very near future.

It is a statement that few of the Toon Army would have expected to read, but no Premier League side seemed to enjoy a better transfer deadline day than Newcastle.

Miguel Almiron became the Magpies’ record signing and Antonio Barreca joined on loan. And the Daily Mirror is now reporting that Mike Ashley hopes that the exciting end to the window will convince Rafa Benitez to pen a new contract at St James’ Park within the next six weeks.

The Mirror reports that the Spaniard’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and that had led to a transfer stand-off between the manager and the owner.

According to the Mirror, Benitez wanted Almiron through the door before he considered extending his contract, while Ashley wanted his manager to commit before he sanctioned the signing.

Now however, with the Paraguay star signed, the Mirror reports that Ashley wants Benitez’s future resolved, and is even willing to compromise with a three-year deal on the table with the promise of further signings in the summer after previously wanting Benitez to sign for five more years.

Newcastle may remain in a fairly precarious position in the Premier League table. But it would be an incredible statement if Ashley could now get Benitez to sign a long-term contract on Tyneside.

Some fans will inevitably remain sceptical about the owner’s reported promises. But Benitez is no idiot. The Mirror reports that he has plenty of admirers elsewhere, so if he decides to stay at St James’ Park, it may well be a sign that he has a strong sense that something is changing.