Benitez set to shut door on Premier League return and sign new Napoli contract

1 Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez seems unlikely to make a return to the Premier League next season after his agent revealed the Spanish coach is close to signing a new contract with Napoli.

Benitez has been strongly linked with the managerial posts at Manchester City, Newcastle and West Ham, while a section of Liverpool fans are keen to see him return to Anfield.

The former Liverpool boss was expected to leave Napoli when his contract ran out at the end of the season.

But reports in Italy now suggest that Benitez could pledge his long-term future to the Serie A club.

Napoli have reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and could still win a place in the Champions League next season.

And despite the speculation linking him with a move back to England, Benitez’s agent Manuel Garcia Quilon says a new deal could be agreed in the next week.

Quilon, speaking to Mediaset, said: “Am I optimistic? I’m an optimist by nature. It will take four or five days.

“When there are two people in the negotiation you can’t say with any certainty that a deal will be struck. The negotiations are ongoing.”