RAFAEL BENITEZ insists Daryl Janmaat is still part of his Newcastle United squad despite strong interest in him – as Siem de Jong secures a return to Holland.

The Magpies boss, speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s EFL Cup tie with Cheltenham at St James’ Park, is being kept updated with transfer negotiations after plenty of interest in his players.

Dutch forward Siem de Jong has been in his homeland to pass a medical ahead of completing a season long loan and that has been confirmed by PSV Eindhoven and Newcastle today.

His compatriot Janmaat has attracted interest from West Ham and abroad, while Ajax have been in touch to discuss Tim Krul’s availability.

But Benitez remained coy. He said: “We are where we are with Siem. I told Daryl the other day that if he is here he is a player I like. If someone comes with a fantastic offer for him and us we will analyse things. At the minute he is with us and is a player who is in our squad.

“I am fortunate to have a good group of professionals. Tim Krul is the same situation. If we can find a solution. We are where we were before.”

Newcastle will welcome back Aleksandar Mitrovic to the team that faces Cheltenham after he completed his four-match ban for his red card against Tottenham on the final day of last season.

Benitez wants his players to take the EFL Cup tie seriously too, even if he will freshen things up.

The Newcastle boss said: “It is important to have Mitro back. Dwight Gayle was our striker with experience. Mitro is a different type of striker, he has physicality.

“He likes to train, trains hard and that is hard then not to play. I hope he does well and gives us something different. Hopefully he can be calm and controlled and score lots of goals.

“For us every game is the most important. I have told the players we have to approach the game as that. It is my job to pick the team and we have to be ready, show them respect and to win every single game.

“I don’t know how many changes because we will have played two games in a few days, but it has to be a team that can win.”

Brendan Galloway, meanwhile, has joined West Brom on a season long loan. He had been expected to join Newcastle but they could not do a deal in time.