Newcastle United FC ready to replace Steve McClaren with Rafael Benitez

Newcastle United are hoping to lure Rafael Benitez to St. James’ Park in a desperate bid to avoid relegation

Despite spending heavily over the last 9 months in an attempt to improve the squad, Newcastle United have endured a terrible season so far and look certainties to suffer the ignominy of relegation if things do not turn around on the pitch soon.

Newcastle’s current predicament has meant that it has been no surprise whatsoever in seeing manager Steve McClaren finding himself under intense pressure and many are calling for the former England boss to be sacked following the home loss against Bournemouth over the weekend.

Benitez wanted by Newcastle United

If indeed Newcastle choose to dispense with the services of McClaren, they will most certainly need to appoint a top manager to save them from relegation and according to reports, the Magpies are hopeful of luring former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to St. James’ Park for the last few months of the season.

Benitez was sacked by Real Madrid midway through the season but the Spaniard is held in high regard by a host of clubs in England and the 55-year old has hinted on more than one occasion that he would like to make a return back to the Premier League.

Now Newcastle are hopeful of tempting Benitez to join the club in a desperate bid to avoid the drop and are ready to hand the ex-Valencia manager a lucrative short term contract till the end of the season.