Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Rafa Benitez has revealed that Newcastle United are likely to have to sell to buy in order to bring in the rest of their summer transfer targets.

The Magpies have banked £10million for Mikel Merino recently and could also net a further £25million for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba. Benitez is desperately trying to bring in a striker in the last three weeks of the window.

But the Toon boss admits his hands could be tied when it comes to bidding for top players : “It’s not necessary to say anything. As soon as the price goes a little high I know we can’t buy them.

“We have to be realistic, maybe sell some players and buy some players. It’s normal for us to think we have to be like that. The point for us is we have to adapt.

“That is the situation. Are we happy with that?

“Obviously not 100% but we try to do our best to be strong enough and we can compete.”

Benitez met the media at Carton House today and addressed several issues including Matt Ritchie’s link with Stoke City.

It is believed only the arrival of Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace will signal an exit for the Scotland winger .

But Ritchie is at United’s Ireland training camp and Benitez now says he has no interest in selling to the Potters.

He told Sky Sports: “We are in the same position as last year. He is our player and we don’t want to sell him.

“To do a movement too many things will have to happen at the same time. I was talking to him this morning and I don’t see any change in the situation.”

Benitez thought he would be losing Isaac Hayden – who is wanted by Brighton. Hayden wants to leave for personal reasons but Benitez is now talking to the player.

He said: “I don’t think we will lose any of them. We will try our best to help him in his situation.

“We will also do our best to protect the team because we need players and he’s a player we have a lot of trust in.”

And when addressing his own future, Benitez said from Maynooth: “I have been here four years and I think I committed my future when I decided to stay in the Championship.

“We won the Championship and are now in the Premier League after one year. We had a great season last year so I think we saw enough commitment.

“Now we have to wait to see if we can challenge for higher position or challenge for trophies.

“We have to wait to see what we are capable of doing.”