RAFAEL BENITEZ has suffered another setback in his bid to land a new winger at Newcastle United.

Swansea City are playing hardball over their reluctance to let Modou Barrow head for St James’ Park on a loan basis.

The Swans had initially been happy for Barrow to move to Tyneside on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer, provided promotion was achieved.

However, Newcastle do not want the permanent deal to be written into the short-term arrangement, which has put the deal in serious doubt.

Newcastle have targeted and considered a number of wide players so far in January, without success.

Re-signing Andros Townsend had looked the most likely move until the weekend when Crystal Palace told them they want to do a permanent deal – worth around £10m plus a compromise over a £3m payment due to Newcastle - rather than a loan.

That prompted Newcastle to turn their attentions to Swansea’s Barrow but, despite numerous discussions between officials and agents, there has been no breakthrough.

Benitez is still desperate for a new winger and holding midfielder before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night. He feels such additions will ensure he can guide the Magpies to a top-two place.

Everton’s James McCarthy remains on the Newcastle radar. He has expressed a reluctance to join Sunderland’s relegation battle and it remains to be seen if he will be keen to drop down to the Championship for a promotion push.

McCarthy is still expected to leave Goodison Park before the end of the window and there has been plenty of clubs, but nothing has materialised.

Benitez’s central midfield options look like being reduced by the departure of Cheik Tiote.

The Ivorian has struggled to force his way back into the Newcastle side in the league and he has travelled to Spain to hold talks over a move to China.

Shanghai Shenhua are training in Mallorca and their main decision makers are due to travel there for transfer discussions. Tiote is understood to be keen to have talks about completing his move.

The former Twente midfielder has had numerous transfers to China, where Papiss Cisse is playing his football, breakdown in recent years, while he has also previously had the option of moving both to Russia and the Middle East.