Newcastle United midfielder Christian Atsu has joined the growing list of players urging manager Rafael Benitez to stay at St. James’ Park next season.
The Chronicle claim that Benitez’s representatives have begun talks with the club’s hierarchy over the popular Spaniard’s future.
Benitez masterminded the Magpies’ promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking last season and has this year guided them to a possible top-half finish.
Atsu, who moved permanently to Tyneside last summer for a £6m fee following a successful loan spell, told Sky Sports:
We need him to stay because we love working with him, the fans love him, the board love him. We are giving him all the support and we are hoping that he will stay and will be with us for many years.
The Ghanaian has provided two goals and two assists in 28 Premier League appearances this season and joins team-mates Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame in backing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager, adding:
Without him, things would have been difficult. We worked so hard all season, we had a great manager, and the fans were behind us in each and every game, home and away.
We have 52,000 fans supporting us and we are so happy for the supporters, so proud of ourselves too, that we are staying in the Premier League.
Benitez is contracted to the Magpies until next summer and is believed to want the promise of substantial funds to take the club to the heights of days gone by.
