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Newcastle United are hoping to tie up a deal to keep Rafa Benitez at St James’ Park for three years by the end of the week.

Benitez is believed to be content with the pace of the discussions with Newcastle officials after setting a two-week timescale on the eve of the club’s 5-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

And it is understood that managing director Lee Charnley is hopeful of making a breakthrough on the deal by the middle of next week.

Benitez had already agreed a three-year contract with the Magpies in March with a breakout clause at the 10-game stage, but as yet neither party have opted out of the original arrangement.

Both Benitez’s representatives and Charnley are dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s of his contract with several assurances for the Spaniard required before the deal can be announced.

It is understood that owner Mike Ashley has taken a step back from the deal after meeting Benitez last Sunday after the game with Spurs and that Charnley has taken the lead on negotiations.

Having met Charnley last week at his Sports Direct HQ in Shirebrook, Ashley has allowed the £150k-per-year managing director to get on with the job at St James’ Park.

There had been calls for Charnley to go from some fans via social media, but securing the services of Benitez would give the Lancashire-born director a great chance of future success.

It is also believed that Benitez enjoys working with Charnley and feels there is a healthy working relationship between the pair.

Charnley has always been content to let somebody else do the talking on football matters and Benitez’s performances in front of the TV cameras and written media have been faultless since he took on the job after Steve McClaren and United parted company.

One of the key issues that needs to be thrashed out is the role of chief scout Graham Carr with the football board member having three years left on his current deal.

After the cost of relegation to the club, it remains unclear whether Carr will earn a payout or adopt a different role.

The Geordie scout has always enjoyed a good rapport with the club owner – with Ashley even accompanying him on a scouting mission to France at one stage of his tenure.

However, Benitez is believed to want full control of transfers and recruitment and with Carr playing such a prominent role in recent years club observers find it difficult to see Benitez working beneath the 71-year-old.

Carr may also argue that he is merely the club’s talent spotter and that it is has been the role of the head coach in recent years to get the best out of the players he recommends.