West Ham are closing in on a deal to sign Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in the summer.
The former Liverpool player has fallen down the pecking order at St James' Park and Rafa Benitez admitted earlier this week that he is now his fifth-choice midfielder.
The 27-year-old is available for selection following a thigh injury but cannot make the bench and has watched the last three matches from the stands.
West Ham were keen on signing Shelvey in January but failed to get a deal done and now, according to The Sun, a £20million move to his boyhood club is back on.
Benitez has been using Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden as a midfield duo with success in recent weeks, while Mo Diame and Ki Sung-yueng are competing for more action.
And the Magpies boss has warned Shelvey he is at the bottom of the pecking order right now.
'It is very easy to explain why he is not playing,' said Benitez. 'You have Longstaff and Hayden doing well. Still you have Ki and Diame - they were ahead of him - and they are not in the team, so you have five midfielders now for two positions.
'We don't have the the space - physically, you cannot put more than 18 players in the squad. Someone has to stay out and that is my problem to decide.'
Benitez added: 'Many people say, "Yeah, but Jonjo could be…". Yes, "could be", but we are doing well.
'The Burnley game (2-0 win on Tuesday) was an example. We put Diame on the bench because we though that it could be physical and, in the end, he was on the pitch.
'Ki has the quality, Diame has the physicality so, for Jonjo to go ahead of him, he has to do really well and be the right one (for that match).'
Shelvey's situation has understandably led to doubt over his future. When asked if he would remain at the club beyond this season, Benitez said: 'I think so. He is under contract.'