RAFAEL BENITEZ has reiterated the need for new signings ahead of the transfer deadline on January 31, and urged Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to follow through on his promise to support his transfer plans.

Benitez watched his Newcastle side crash to a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City that leaves them just two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick condemned the Magpies to defeat at the Etihad Stadium, with Benitez admitting his players are struggling to keep their heads above water after winning promotion to the top-flight last season.

The collapse of Amanda Staveley’s proposed takeover means Ashley will be in sole control of Newcastle’s transfer budget for the remainder of the month, and having spoken to the Magpies owner earlier in the week, Benitez is hoping to land some of his key targets before the window swings shut at the end of the month.

The Newcastle manager said: “In our last conversation with Mike Ashley, he said we had the green light to sign players, so I would like to see someone come before January 31. We need options.

“It is obvious because the team is working hard, but we still need some quality to help the team. We have a list of players – he has that list of players – and we have to try our best to be sure we can bring in what we need.

“This morning, I had a message. But I didn’t have an update. Hopefully, we can be closer to someone.”

Benitez felt his players acquitted themselves well against a City side that reopened a 12-point gap to Manchester United, but conceded they were eventually beaten a better team.

He said: “I am obviously not happy because we have lost, but I was expecting something like that – the players working very hard against a very good team. I thought the team work and the spirit was positive.

“We obviously want to win, and the timing of the things that were happening was not great – the first chance that we had, the penalty that was very soft, the chances that we had after our goal. It was a pity because it could have been a little bit better, but we have to say that they are a very good team.

“We were unlucky with the first chance because they were sleeping, but then after that we were defending against a very good team. We knew it would be like that, but we wanted to stay in the game and we did that.

“As soon as we were pushing, we scored our goal, and then we had our chances. They had a couple of shots where the keeper was doing well, but we were pushing higher, but then we conceded the (third) goal because we were a little bit open. Then, they can kill you on the counter-attack.”