Rafa Benitez says he is still waiting for Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to tell him how much money he has to spend this month.

The Magpies are in danger of missing out on several targets given the delay in identifying their January budget, which is complicated by Amanda Staveley’s ongoing takeover talks.

Benitez is becoming increasingly frustrated and wants to avoid a repeat of 12 months ago, when they failed to sign a single player despite the manager believing he had £30million to invest.

Rafa Benitez reveals he is still waiting to hear how much he can spend in the January window

Ashley remains on holiday in Miami, and Benitez said: ‘I don’t know exactly what our budget is so I don’t have any news.

‘We have to keep working and try to make sure we have our targets because I don’ t know. We had a meeting last week (with chief executive Lee Charnley) and had conversations and I am waiting now for news.

‘We had the meeting, talking about options and targets but are waiting for the numbers.’

Benitez, whose 13th-placed side entertain Luton Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, added: ‘We need some bodies. How many I will not say, I don’t know the budget so it doesn’t matter whether I say one, two or three or four... sometimes you have a target and you don't get a target.

'January is always difficult because they might be in a top side and don’t want to leave now.’