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Rafa Benitez says that his Newcastle United scouts are ready for the January transfer window – takeover or no takeover.

Frenzied talk of super-sized transfer budgets has accompanied the talks that are taking place behind-the-scenes at St James’ Park and all parties are keen to get any deal done in time for January and what could potentially be a transformative window.

Benitez is working on two lists: one that would utilise extra funds and one that would be based on a more limited budget under Mike Ashley – which would be made up of the profits from the end of the summer window and the estimated £10-15million payment from the Premier League central funds that arrives in the middle of the winter.

(Image: Newcastle United)

The United boss wants a ‘number ten’, a left-back and a striker in January and is prepared to go into the loan market if needs be. Benitez met head of recruitment Steve Nickson and Lee Charnley this week and says that his message to both is that he needs “good” players. But he admits takeover talk has come into their thinking.

“The first thing you are looking for is good players. Then you put a list of good players and after you put the prices. So we are looking for good players. Then if we cannot come here, OK, we will come here. But still we have a list.

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“I have told the scouts to just look for good players and after we will decide where we are. It is too early, but we have to have the names. One side or the other side (of a takeover happening), we have to have the names. They have to do that.

“There are players that you cannot sign, even if you have money, you cannot sign these players because they play Champions League, Europa League or whatever with a top side. So you cannot waste time with these players. But the others you have to know all of them and be ready.”