RAFAEL BENITEZ has shelved talks over a new contract – but claims Newcastle United “did well” in their summer transfer dealings.

The Magpies had the lowest net spend of all Premier League clubs, making around £20m of profit during the summer window.

Benitez spent the majority of the summer bemoaning the club’s failure to land his key summer targets, and warning of the potential for disaster if Mike Ashley did not loosen the purse strings despite his ongoing desire to sell up.

The Newcastle boss was in a much more placatory mood at his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Tottenham, but does not intend to return to discussions over a potential new deal.

He has entered the final year of his current contract, and is happy to run down his deal over the course of the next 12 months.

Benitez said: “Now, we have finished the transfer window. I am really pleased here. I would like to see the team at the top so I will be doing my best every day. If we have to talk about a possible extension, we will talk, but now is not the time.”

Newcastle brought in seven players this summer, with the final recruit arriving yesterday as Federico Fernandez completed a permanent move from Swansea City.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Mikel Merino and Chancel Mbemba all left St James’ Park, but while Benitez cut a frustrated figure at various stages of the transfer window, he insists it is time to draw a line under the summer’s dealings and move on.

He said: “It is fine, we are ready. I am a fighter so I like to fight. Hopefully, we will do as well as we did last year.

“I am really calm now because we have finished. It is the time where you have to do exactly as we did last year. The fans behind the team, all together, the work rate and commitment.

“During the summer you have to try to improve your squad as much as possible, as soon as you are finished, you have to concentrate on football.

“The fans will think, ‘Rafa will be upset’ or this or that. But this is not the time for that. We finished tenth last year. We have added some players, players we needed, and I think that is good and positive.

“Could it be better? You can always improve and be better. But I am pleased with the players that are here.”

Having only signed on Thursday, Fernandez will be included in the squad for the Spurs game. As a result, Ciaran Clark will partner Jamaal Lascelles at the heart of the back four.