Rafa Benitez has challenged the Newcastle board to deliver the players he needs to ensure the club’s Premier League survival.

Benitez has drawn up a short-list of targets he wants to secure before the transfer window shuts on January 31, with the Toon still perilously close to the drop zone.

With the prospect of a takeover now off the agenda, Benitez has warned owner Mike Ashley (right) and the board they must act now to ensure the club’s top-flight status.

“It’s going to be a very important week for us,” said Benitez.

Rafa Benitez insists Newcastle are entering an important week with the transfer deadline nearing (
Image:
Ian MacNicol)
Toon owner Mike Ashley has been urged to spend money on new players (
Image:
Getty)

“We’ve been working very hard to make sure we have the names who can help the team to stay up.

“We have the names, we gave a list to the owner. Now it’s just a case of waiting to see if we can do what we have to do.

“They know the names. They know what they have to do and it doesn’t matter if it’s loans or permanent signings – we need the bodies to give the team the ability to manage. This team was in the Championship and got promoted, and we don’t have much experience of the Premier League.

“We need players with quality who can give us something different or experience. We’ll see how many we can get.

Newcastle were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City at the weekend (
Image:
Getty Images)

“I expect someone, but we’ll see. I don’t know how many we can get, it’s a little bit late now.

“If they have experience in the Premier League, it’ll be easier for us. If not, they have to have different characteristics and give us something we don’t have at the moment.”

Newcastle allowed City 81 per cent possession at the Etihad, but Benitez defended his tactics, insisting it was the right approach against the best side in the country.

“Our idea was to defend, then to go and create on the attack, and we did that,” said Benitez. “But every team has their own players.

“It’s not like Liverpool, who had five players who could make the difference on their own.

“We don’t have these kind of players.”

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