RAFAEL BENITEZ will consider offers for Dutch playmaker Siem de Jong ahead of his return to Newcastle United for pre-season.

De Jong has spent the campaign back in his native Holland where he has played 23 times for PSV Eindhoven, scoring six times.

But the 28-year-old has not impressed sufficiently enough to persuade PSV to broker a permanent deal, with technical director Marcel Brands exploring alternative options.

It means de Jong, who has three years remaining on his contract at St James’ Park, is due back to Tyneside on July 3 with the rest of the squad to prepare for the Premier League.

De Jong would still like to prove himself in the Premier League because injuries prevented him from really settling and adapting to England after moving from Ajax in 2014.

The former Ajax skipper only played 26 times for Newcastle because of his problems, including two collapsed lungs in as many seasons, and that left him playing catch-up with the rest of the players when he did return to the fold.

Benitez gave de Jong a chance during the initial period of his time in charge when the Spanish boss was unable to prevent relegation from falling on the club.

De Jong appeared in four of the matches before being allowed to head to the Eredivisie during the summer.

Benitez always spoke highly of him, but he could be willing to let the £6m signing go if the deal suits Newcastle although he will also be happy to work with him again in six weeks’ time if nothing materialises.

The Newcastle boss has given managing director Lee Charnley a list of potential targets to work on over the summer before his players return to pre-season training.

He has allowed Vurnon Anita and Yoan Gouffran to head away on holiday to consider their futures. Both players could prefer to look for alternative, longer term deals than they can command at Newcastle.

Anita and Gouffran have been important players in the promotion from the Championship, but neither are likely to be guaranteed starting spots if Newcastle can strike the transfer deals Benitez hopes for.