Rafa Benitez has strongly suggested he would be keen to extend his Newcastle United contract this summer - as long as the Magpies secure survival and he is backed during the final days of the transfer window.
Managing director Lee Charnley and owner Mike Ashley are understood to have attempted to initiative talks over a new deal for the Spaniard earlier this month.
However, Benitez asked for discussions to be postponed until the summer, with the 57-year-old adamant the club should be prioritising strengthening the squad this month.
Benitez’s immediate focus is on securing signings, as well as on defeating former club Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but it seems the Spaniard could yet be receptive to staying at Newcastle long term.
The Spaniard’s contract will have just 12 months left to run come the end of the season and, following the news of PCP Capital Partners Ltd’s failed takeover bid earlier this month, fans understandably feared Benitez would be unable to work with Ashley long term.
But seemingly Benitez has challenged the Newcastle owner to deliver signings during the final days of the window if the Sports Direct billionaire is serious about convincing him to stay long term.
Asked if the club had attempted to open talks over a new contract, Benitez replied: “Yeah, but I don’t think that it is the point now, before this game, to talk about whether I have been offered a new contract or not.
“My focus is just to be sure that I am ready for the games and that is my focus. It’s not an issue.
“It will not change anything [if we speak before the end of the season]. I told Mike what I thought, and what I think, about that. He knows my opinion and we don’t have to talk now.
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“I am really pleased here, with the city, the fans, it’s a lovely club and we have to maximise this potential in order to have more chances to do well in the future.
“Yes [it is good that Ashley wants me to sign a new deal]. Obviously when we decided to stay, and after the way we were working in the Championship, and winning the Championship, and getting promoted - it wasn’t lucky.
“We are doing things in a way that is quite professional and that is the reason why we have won some trophies, because we are doing things with a methodology that, in the end, is successful.”
Asked if he would prefer for the club to secure Premier League survival before initiating discussions during the summer, Benitez admitted that was the case.
“I don’t have any problem with my future,” Benitez added.
“I’m really pleased here and I love the city, the fans, the potential, everything. When I decided to come I had the same feeling.
“Obviously I have more information now, it’s just a question of doing what we have to do. It’s just to ensure the team is doing well.
“For me it is not an issue. I have to make sure we are doing things in the right way, and if we have this common idea and we are on the same page, then I am not worried about that. We have to be sure we stay in the Premier League.”
Pushed as to whether he would extend his contract as long as Newcastle survived, Benitez smiled and responded: “Then the conversation [over a new deal] will be easier.”
Newcastle have had two bids rejected for No 1 striker target Nicolai Jorgensen, though the Magpies remain in negotiations with Feyenoord.
But Benitez has presented Charnley and Ashley with back-up options should the club fail to lure Jorgensen to Tyneside, and the Spaniard expects a forward - and hopefully further signings - to arrive before Wednesday’s deadline.
“I like to talk and have the communication and I talk with Lee and I was talking with Mike about the names that we wanted for this window,” Benitez added.
“Of course I cannot control the financial part of the deals. What I have to do is give names, have some information, some feedback from Lee, and then give my opinion.
“We had the conversation about players, Mike gave the green light and then Lee has started working and I need to see if everything is fine on January 31.
“The main thing is that we have to be on the same page, that’s pretty simple.”