A statement on Newcastle United’s website has confirmed that discussions between Mike Ashley and Rafa Benitez have gone well, indicating that there would be no managerial change at St James’ Park before the Premier League season and Benitez would be staying.

Benitez has been promised “every penny that the club generates” to strengthen his squad and establish the Magpies back in the Premier League after years of uncertainty.

Since securing their promotion back to the top-flight, Newcastle have been linked with a host of players and the club's statement has only added fuel to the fire, with Manchester City’s Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando highlighted as potential transfer targets.

There will undoubtedly be additions at St James’ Park this summer, but it could be argued that the club have already secured their best summer signing in Benitez.

Benitez’s future was in doubt, with the former Real Madrid boss keen to seek assurances from Ashley that he would be given a healthy transfer budget to compete in the top-flight.

Had Benitez quit St James’ Park it would have left Newcastle facing a difficult return to the top-fight - with Hull City showing this year just how testing the Premier League can be, with a surprise change of management.

Benitez will be able to use his Premier League experience and contacts to lure some big names to St James’ Park, just as he did last season when convincing Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle to step into the Championship.

Mangala and Fernando may never make the move to St James’ Park, but without Benitez being there, they wouldn’t even be mentioned as potential targets, highlighting just how important he is to the club in securing the quality of player to continue progressing.