Former Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed Rangers manager Steven Gerrard tried to sign Sean Longstaff.

Benitez revealed he has kept in touch with his former Liverpool midfielder, who attempted to sign the talented midfielder.

"We have kept in touch. Both of our lives are very busy and it isn't about giving advice but we have had contact to talk football and to talk about players," Benitez told The Athletic.

"In fact, in the summer of last year, Stevie called me about Sean Longstaff.

"Rangers were interested and he asked whether they could sign him on loan, but I told him "no" — he'd be staying at Newcastle United.

"Some people have said, 'Oh, Rafa was lucky because of Longstaff' but we'd been watching him and we were happy with him, we played him in the first-team, supported him and gave him confidence.

"Turning Rangers down is proof of what we thought of Sean."