Cattermole is still with the Black Cats after a £5million deal with Stoke City collapsed just a couple of hours before the transfer window shut, with the former Boro star reported to have held the club to ransom asking for a pay-off!
And it’s been reported that Napoli also had an inquiry rebuffed earlier in the day.
Benitez previously tried to buy the 25-year-old, who has been with the Wearside club for five years, when he was in charge at Liverpool.
Cattermole could be out of the first team picture for some time now that manager Gus Poyet has signed Liam Bridcutt from his former club Brighton and Hove Albion for £3million.
The deal was to REPLACE Cattermole, although Poyet went to the wire on the final day of the transfer window saying "I hope Cattermole stays".
The big question - is the midfielder's game suited to the Italian game?
I'm sure some would question it.
Saturday February 8
12:45 Liverpool v Arsenal
15:00 Aston Villa v West Ham United
15:00 Chelsea v Newcastle United
15:00 Crystal Palace v West Brom
15:00 Norwich City v Manchester City
15:00 Southampton v Stoke City
15:00 Sunderland v Hull City
17:30 Swansea City v Cardiff City
Sunday February 9
13:30 Tottenham v Everton
16:00 Man Utd v Fulham
Tuesday February 11
19:45 Cardiff City v Aston Villa
19:45 Hull City v Southampton
19:45 West Ham United v Norwich City
20:00 West Brom v Chelsea
Wednesday February 12
19:45 Arsenal v Man Utd
19:45 Everton v Crystal Palace
19:45 Manchester City v Sunderland
19:45 Newcastle United v Tottenham
19:45 Stoke City v Swansea City
20:00 Fulham v Liverpool