Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez believes their one chance of keeping hold of Kenedy is a new loan deal.

Kenedy is on-loan to the end of this season from Chelsea.

"I know his agent, so the point with him is that he's doing well," said Benitez, who had wanted to sign Kenedy last summer.

"I am happy because we've been winning and he's been scoring goals and that's fantastic for us and really good news for him.

"The situation is that Chelsea need to know where they will finish and we need to know where we will finish. There is plenty of time to talk.

"But if you're asking me (if loan is perhaps best option), I'd say yes, you'd have to ask them as well.

"It wasn't easy to bring him here and it won't be easy to bring him here again."