Surely that's what is being written into the contracts now though and why it's taking a while to confirm?
I'm tentatively optimistic but there are nagging doubts - not over whether he'll sign but whether what they sign means anything to the regime.
Until such time as Rafa exits the club on good terms, I'll be skeptical that they won't try to fuck him over regardless of assurances/contractual obligations as they have priors. Keeping control might just be worth paying out a few million in comp via a tribunal. Unless the contract has a clause (and I doubt it does) with insane punitive damages, like £100m for breach of terms, that option will always be floating out there for them.
"But that would be the second manager to be dicked over in such a fashion, surely they'd fear the hit on their reputation?" There's always another McClaren/Pardew/Kinnear ready to agree to be a puppet. They don't care if the show is shit as long as they're still the ones running it.
Not trying to be a downer. But I can't shake the doubt and fear.