Newcastle United news: Youngster Rolando Aarons agrees new long-term contract at St James' Park

20-year-old winger rebuffs interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham to commit his future to Newcastle, having been impressed by Rafael Benitez's tenure so far

(Getty)

Newcastle United are on the brink of securing the long-term future of star youngster Rolando Aarons. The 20-year-old winger agreed a new five-year contract at St James' Park on Wednesday afternoon, and it is expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

The news that Aarons has committed himself to Newcastle is a major coup for the new Rafael Benitez regime. Aarons was in the last year of his contract there and had been widely expected to leave at the end of this season, with Newcastle due a fee set by tribunal. There had been serious interest in Aarons from some of the Premier League's leading clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Aarons and Newcastle had been far apart on terms for some time. But today he has agreed a new deal until the end of the 2020-21 season.

There had been a breakthrough in talks when the players returned for pre-season, with Aarons especially enthused by Benitez's coaching. Aarons had barely featured under Steve McClaren, and when he had played it had been unsuccessfully at left-back. But Aarons feels more trusted by Benitez, and has been used in his favoured left-wing role. He scored the fourth goal and created the fifth when Newcastle beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 on the last day of the last Premier League season. Aarons confirmed afterwards that he was hoping to stay at St James' Park. "I want to stay here," he said. "I’m not focused on contracts I just want to play games and score goals, that’s all that matters to me."

Aarons has enjoyed pre-season working with Benitez, and featured in their opening game of the Championship season. Benitez brought Aarons on for the last 30 minutes of Newcastle's 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage on Friday evening. After that game he agreed the outline of a new contract at Newcastle until summer 2021. He is pushing for a starting place when Newcastle host Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.