Benitez coy over Doan transfer link

Rafa Benitez is still waiting to find out his January transfer budget.

Benitez, linked with Groningen midfielder Ritsu Doan, wants to strengthen his Newcastle United squad next month.

However, Benitez doesn’t yet know how much he will have to spend amid takeover talks at the club, which was put up for sale last year by owner Mike Ashley.

Asked about a report linking Newcastle with 20-year-old Doan, manager Benitez said: “They gave me some names before.

“We don’t talk about players. We don’t have any news. We’re in same position as were last week.

“We have been working for a while looking for names, watching players, here with TV and going to watch them.

“We have a lot of names, and we have to work with them. We have nothing new. We have same situation.

“The first thing is to identify the players, and then after that we decide who we can go with. We go for one, and if we cant go then we got for another. What you get (money) is the key.”

Meanwhile, Benitez will be without four players for today’s game against Huddersfield Town.

Newcastle United take on David Wagner’s side at John Smith’s Stadium looking for their first win in three games.

Benitez will be without the suspended DeAndre Yedlin, who was dismissed in last weekend’s home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And Federico Fernandez, Jonjo Shelvey and Karl Darlow will also miss out along with fit-again Florian Lejeune, who made his comeback for the club’s Under-23s this week.

Benitez said: “Fernandez has a knock. He’s progressing well, but not available.”