Rafa Benitez has underlined the need to sign Salomon Rondon this summer.
The Venezuela international was handed the club's official player of the year award on Saturday but could still be sent back to West Bromwich Albion with his future in the air next week.
Should Benitez extend his stay on Tyneside he will be certain to want Rondon but the striker has been linked with other Premier League clubs such as European hopefuls Wolves and West Ham United.
There is also a chance West Brom will want to keep him if they are promoted to the Premier League.
But Benitez said: "We know that he has been a really, really important player for us.
"It's not just the goals that he has scored, also the assists and how he brings players into the game.
"He links with the others really well, holds the ball.
"There are a lot of positives, and we will see what happens."
Benitez has also spoken about the club's achievement of staying up this season.
In an attempt to try to manage expectations after last term's 10th place finish, Benitez said: "I am really proud and please because we have stayed up, but I would like to compete for something more.
"Hopefully we can go closer and we can match the ambitions of the fans."
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