Premier League strugglers Newcastle United are reportedly desperate for Rafael Benitez to stay on as manager even if they are relegated from the top flight.

Benitez, a Champions League winner whose last job was with Real Madrid, took over on Tyneside last month and appears to have turned a corner after a tricky start with four points from their last two matches.

The Magpies are still 19th in the table, but they are now within two points of safety with only four matches of the season remaining.

Benitez has a clause in his three-year contract which allows him to leave the club should they go down, but Newcastle will plead with him to stay on if the worst does happen, according to The Telegraph.

The paper goes on to say that players at the club have also been impressed with Benitez's leadership since he succeeded Steve McClaren.