Rafael Benitez: My future is with Magpies

Rafael Benitez has hinted that he is not ready to walk away from Newcastle, even if another difficult transfer window ends in disaster.

The Spaniard’s hopes of having his business done by January 20 were dashed weeks ago and, with moves for Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge having fallen by the wayside, he faces the prospect of ending a frustrating month with only Chelsea midfielder Kenedy having arrived on loan.

Benitez has always been confident the Magpies could stay up if they signed the men he identified in the list he gave owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley at the beginning of the month, and admits his task will be all the more difficult if that mission again fails.