RAFAEL BENITEZ has ruled out selling anyone who is currently part of Newcastle United’s first-team squad – and admits he still does not know if he will have a budget to sign players during this month’s transfer window.

The Magpies manager is aware of mounting interest in a number of his players, with West Ham United understood to be lining up a formal offer for Jonjo Shelvey.

However, with Shelvey expected to be in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s Premier League home game with Swansea City, Benitez insists there is no chance of the midfielder being allowed to leave St James’ Park.

And despite Mike Ashley having returned from the United States earlier this week, the Newcastle boss is still to discover whether he will have money to spend this week.

Benitez said: “We cannot sell players that are playing because we would have to replace them for better players and in January we would need a lot of money to convince players to come here, that is almost impossible in January. We are not thinking of selling players that are playing already.

“I have heard people talking about our players, but we do not have any offers. If someone would come and could buy, then we would have extra money to go to the market. We do not want to sell anyone who will add value to the team- and we cannot loan (out) players if we do not have options to replace them.”

When asked directly whether he had been told of his budget for the rest of the month, he added: “No, we are still working.”

Newcastle have Rob Elliot available for tomorrow’s game, although it remains to be seen whether the Irishman is selected ahead of Karl Darlow. Jesus Gamez, Florian Lejeune and Aleksandar Mitrovic remain unavailable because of injury.

“We are without Gamez, Lejeune and Mitrovic, who has been running today,” said Benitez. “These three are not available. The others are available.”