RAFAEL BENITEZ is weighing up his transfer options as Newcastle United manager after edging closer to staying on at St James’ Park – even if player sales will be key in him significantly putting his mark on the squad.

The uncertainty surrounding Benitez’s future could carry over into next week because a new contract will have to be drawn up without the existing clause which allows him to leave following relegation from the Premier League.

But Benitez is on the verge of accepting to stay and lead the charge back to the Championship after the positive talks with Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, and managing director Lee Charnley, since the Sunday’s 5-1 win over Tottenham.

The former Liverpool boss has sought assurances over a number of things and featuring heavily in discussions have been what adjustments he can make to his playing staff before the start of next season.

Bournemouth's former Middlesbrough forward Lee Tomlin, who has spent part of the campaign on loan at Bristol City, is under consideration after being made available for around £3m.

Tomlin scored six times in 18 games to help the Robins away from relegation trouble having only made ten outings for Bournemouth after his £3.5m switch from the Riverside last summer.

Only two months ago Ashley stated there was ‘virtually nothing left’ to invest in the squad and that situation will have only worsened following the cost of relegation from a Premier League set to benefit from the new £5.14bn TV rights deal.

But Benitez will still be keen to put his own mark on the squad after inheriting a pool of players which the tenures of Steve McClaren and Alan Pardew have left him with.

And the extent of his restructuring will depend largely on what players are sold on, with clubs from across Europe weighing up moves for a number of Newcastle’s internationals.

Juventus are known to be interested in both Moussa Sissoko and Daryl Janmaat and Newcastle would be forced to seriously listen to offers if it meant giving Benitez more money to spend.

Sissoko, handed the captaincy in the closing stages of the season, looks certain to be involved in the European Championships this summer after being named in France’s provisional squad, while Andros Townsend is the only other contender to be taking part if he survives the cut with the England party.

Any transfer involving either of those – although Benitez will not be desperate to lose them – would only take place after the Euros when Newcastle will know exactly what they are dealing with in terms of the managerial situation and players leaving.

There is not believed to be a huge queue of players rushing to get out of Newcastle, particularly following the impact of Benitez at St James’ Park. If he stays there is a belief he could take them back up at the first time of asking and he has the support of the playing staff at his disposal.

Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic – like Spaniard Ayoze Perez earlier this week - has indicated he does not intend to go anywhere after arriving from Anderlecht in a £13m deal last August.

Mitrovic said: “I am sorry about relegation but Newcastle is too big a club and I hope that we will soon return to the elite.

“On a personal level I’m happy, I could not have given more, but I was however, making my debut in the strongest league in the world. At the moment I am living my dream in Newcastle.

“I hope to be at the club for many years and I will be a legend. Of course many children are dreaming of playing for Real, Barca, Manchester United – I always just wanted to wear the shirt of Partizan, Newcastle and my country.”

Mitrovic scored nine times in 36 appearances this season and his hot-headed performances, which also earned him four yellow cards and two dismissals, ensured he was well liked by many of the club’s fans.

Persuading players to stay if there is Champions League interest could be the problem and that looks certain to be a temptation for Dutch defender Janmaat.

Inter Milan and Napoli, who were also keen on Sissoko last season, as well as Juventus, are keen on Janmaat, but Newcastle are quoting clubs a valuation of around the £10m mark for the 26-year-old. Juventus are eyeing him up as competition for 32-year-old Stephan Lichsteiner.