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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has been linked to West Ham United, with manager Slaven Bilic under pressure.

The Telegraph have reported that should Bilic not turn round the Hammers’ poor start to the season quickly then they will cut him and Toon boss Benitez would be a name high on their list of potential replacements.

It shouldn’t come as any real surprise to Magpies fans in truth. Top sides are going to look at Benitez simply because he is doing such a good job at St James’ Park.

The Spaniard has completely transformed Newcastle’s fortunes this season despite relegation, creating a much happier atmosphere both on and off the pitch at the Tyneside club than has been the case in recent seasons.

But would he leave Newcastle for West Ham, or any other club for that matter? Here’s six reasons why we think the current Toon boss will be staying for the long-term.

1. He’s building something special

In the modern game a lot of football management now is about quick, short-term fixes with very little long-term planning.

It’s what a club like West Ham would be looking for in a replacement to Bilic should they decide they need one as they inexplicably find themselves battling at the wrong end of the table this term so far.

Rafa Benitez, however, has always had a very old-school style of management where his plans when he arrives at clubs go way beyond just immediate first team results.

Newcastle have benefited massively from this and his work on all factors at the club, from the first team down to the academy, has been a huge contributing factor to the vastly improved morale at the club these days.

The signs are good at Newcastle that Rafa is truly building something quite special again, and it’s even been compared to the similar re-build that Kevin Keegan achieved in the early 1990s which eventually manifested into the Entertainers era. Why would Rafa want to leave that potential behind?

2. Newcastle have big potential, he sees it, and the board are backing him to realise it

Some would argue that with Newcastle down in the Championship, Rafa might be tempted to move to a club in a better situation than them.

However, Newcastle has potential to be a big club and that is something the Spaniard has noted himself since being here too.

The club has fantastic facilities, including one of the biggest stadiums in the country which is regularly close to full capacity thanks to the club’s fantastic and passionate fanbase.

Crucially, the board agree that the club has been underachieving in recent years and are willing to back Benitez to correct that issue, as they proved in the summer transfer market.

Money will be available to Benitez again in January and then again in the summer when, at this stage, it’s looks likely that the Magpies will be back in the financially prosperous Premier League.

Watch: Chris Waugh on Benitez to West Ham rumours

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3. He’s been given full control of football matters - and he’s enjoying it

The traditional English style of a manager has been slowly fading somewhat in recent seasons as many clubs have adopted a more European approach of a head coach to manage the players, while someone else deals with transfers.

However, Rafa has always preferred the manager role and made that a key part of the negotiations to stay on at the club in the summer.

While he could negotiate those same terms elsewhere, most clubs are less likely to accommodate this to the same extent that Newcastle are with Rafa - particularly in today’s game where finances are king.

The extent of the power Rafa has were on full show in the summer when he was allowed to risk playing hardball over many of his most desired players with his stance being that he would only sell at the right price - a price that he himself determined. You have to presume that at most other clubs owners would be putting pressure on him to sell the minute a decent offer came in for a player.

4. He’s adored by the Newcastle United supporters

He’s been here less than a year but already he is drawing comparisons to two of the club’s most legendary managers in Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.

And while he himself is aware that he has a lot to achieve before he can be seen in the same light as those two, he is very appreciative of the backing from supporters.

He realises how big a role the fans can play in helping the club get back to a position most feel it deserves to be in. A fully-supportive packed crowd at St James’ Park is a hostile place for any opposition player to play in front of.

He has a knack of winning supporters round at most of the clubs he’s been too, but he’s really building a special relationship with fans at this club, which he’ll know he might not be guaranteed to replicate elsewhere.

5. He’s building a squad that are reacting well to his methods

(Image: 2016 Newcastle United)

More a short-term reason why Benitez is unlikely to walk away from Newcastle.

It’s a question of why would he join another team halfway through a season when he’s already building a very good team here?

He’s had a full summer to work with his current Newcastle United squad and coach them on the way he likes to play football. That’s paid off too, with the players really reacting well and reaching the high standards he sets, more often than not.

If he were to go elsewhere now or before the end of the season he’d have to try and teach those methods again to a new set of players with limited time due to important games which would require preparation for.

Rafa is known for his meticulous methods and passion for detail and the fact he’s been given the time to work on that at Newcastle has really paid off with some fantastic team performances from Newcastle this season.

6. He has his work/personal life balanced perfectly

After leaving Real Madrid last season it was always Benitez’s desire to work in England again with his life very much set-up on Merseyside now in the affluent area of the Wirral.

Being not too many miles away from Merseyside, he’s been able to strike a healthy balance of work and personal life which sees him travel back to Merseyside whenever he sees convenient. He seems content with how it’s working out at this time as he’s able to spend at least a couple of days every fortnight at home with the family - even with the rigorous demands of the busy Championship schedule.

Yes, a club like West Ham, based in East London, wouldn’t be too much further or time consuming to travel to - particularly by plane - but why risk changing something that you’re currently happy with?