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Napoli and Real Sociedad are chasing Ayoze Perez – but the player wants to stay on Tyneside and tilt for the Spain squad under Rafa Benitez.

Perez improved hugely in the second half of United’s return to the Premier League and has attracted interest in La Liga, with Real Betis also monitoring Perez’s situation.

But Real Sociedad – through new boss Roberto Olabe – have identified Perez and Mikel Merino as two players that would “shape their side”, according to reports in the Basque country.

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Perez was deployed as a number ten by Benitez as United returned to the Premier League and he faced criticism in the early part of the season as he failed to make much of an attacking impact. But Benitez was asking him to a specific role in the forward line and always maintained that his performances were up to scratch.

In the second half of the season Perez improved and ended the season as Newcastle’s top scorer, with his chipped goal away at Leicester a highlight of the season.

Those performances no doubt helped contribute to the interest of Real Sociedad. A report in Mundo Deportivo admits that any deal would be “very difficult” because there are no clauses in his contract, United rate him highly and he is “essential” to Benitez.

But they made contact with Newcastle over Perez when they were relegated and say he is their top attacking target of the close season.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Reports in Spain claim the player is valued at £18million but the truth is that United would want more than that for a player who is a central part of Benitez’s plans.

And pleasingly, Perez is very happy at Newcastle and believes that he can progress into the Spanish international squad if he continues to plot his current path.

“The football club has to keep getting better,” the 24-year-old said at the end of the season.

“Things are improving but still there are lots of things we can do better to make sure we finish higher in the future.

“We need to keep improving, everyone at the club needs to keep getting better and that’s the main thing. We all have to help each other get better, then the future can be bright.”