That’s according to Sky Sports insider Keith Downie. Rafa Benitez is massively popular at St James’ Park, where he has spent the last three-and-a-half years including overseeing their return to the Premier League as Championship winners and then back-to-back survival seasons despite working with limited resources. But the Spaniard’s future at the club is uncertain with his current contract expiring on June 30. The 59-year-old wants to stay at the club but has sought a series of assurances from the Newcastle board, having repeatedly declared in public that the Magpies should be spending more money and aiming higher up the league table. TRANSFER NEWS LIVE UPDATES: FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP

The north East outfit, despite attracting 55,000 fans every home game, are one of the lowest spenders in the league and have had to battle relegation in both of the last two campaigns - both of which have underlined the importance of keeping Benitez at the club. The former Liverpool boss has held meetings with director Lee Charnley and owner Mike Ashley of late says Downie, but Newcastle fans have been told not to panic and that the ongoing wait to see Benitez put pen-to-paper is simply because he wants the board’s promises down in writing. Downie told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast: “My information a week ago, two weeks ago was that it was close. I know that they have been in dialogue for the best part of a week now, they met last Thursday. “When I say they I mean Rafa Benitez, Lee Charnley the club’s managing director and Mike Ashley. Those talks carried on into the Friday and then everyone headed off on their separate directions.

Rafa Benitez is a much-loved figure on the Tyne

Rafa Benitez reportedly wants to remain with the Mapgies

Newcastle fans have regularly pleaded for Rafa Benitez to stay at the club

Keith Downie says he has heard "positive" noises coming out of both camps

I know it’s difficult for them but they probably just need to give them some time to get this done. Keith Downie's message to Newcastle fans

“I’m told lawyers, agents and others are now involved in going through the finer details of the contract. It’s kind of just the way Newcastle do things really, they never do it easily or quickly. “I can understand why supporters are getting frustrated but they need a bit of time. There’s no point in getting irate and getting angry and putting too much pressure on because the one thing the supporters want and they’ve made it clear is that Benitez remains at the club. “I know it’s difficult for them but they probably just need to give them some time to get this done. They should - the information I’m getting - get their wish and Rafa Benitez will sign a long-term contract. “There’s plenty of sticking points, Ashley has ran the club in a certain way over the last 5-10 years where they only sign players of a certain age. He doesn’t like signing players over the age of 26, 27 who don’t have any sell-on value. “That’s something Rafa Benitez wants to change. He wants to change the wage structure, he wants to sign players who will earn more than £100,000-a-week.

Rafa Benitez has done an excellent job at St James' Park with limited transfer funds

Downie says Newcastle fans will get their wish and Rafa Benitez will stay