Rafael Benitez set to take time as Newcastle bid to keep Spaniard

Newcastle want the 56-year-old, who accepted a 10-game challenge to keep the club in the top flight back in March, to stay.

Talks between Rafael Benitez and Newcastle could extend to weeks rather than days as the club attempts to persuade him to remain on Tyneside.

The Spaniard met managing director Lee Charnley on Thursday in the immediate aftermath of relegation from the Barclays Premier League with sources later indicating their initial discussions had been "productive".