Transfer Centre

Rafael Benitez: 'I need to know how much I can spend in January'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2017

Rafael Benitez is still unsure whether he will be given money to bring in new players during the January transfer window, as takeover talks continue behind the scenes.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that he is eager to find out how far his financial backing will stretch as the winter transfer window approaches.

The Magpies are at the centre of takeover talks between owner Mike Ashley and British businesswoman Amanda Staveley, which will likely take until February to conclude.

Reports suggest that Staveley's PCP Capital Partners group are happy to give Benitez around £30m to spend next month, with the risk of relegation now a serious possibility following a run of seven defeats in eight matches.

Despite the New Year being just 17 days away, Benitez remains in the dark as to whether he will be substantially backed or instead have to stick with what he has until the summer.

"[I need to know] as soon as possible, but I do not know when [I will find out]," he told BBC Sport. "We have the money from the summer window. I think we have some money, but I need to know how much."

Newcastle are 16th in the Premier League table ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal.