RAFA BENITEZ sent key members of his scouting team on European missions over the weekend, with attacking targets firmly in Newcastle United’s sights this summer.

Benitez – who it is claimed is on a Napoli shortlist to return there as coach if Maurizio Sarri leaves - is waiting to learn what Mike Ashley has in mind in terms of spending during the close-season, even though the owner is still interested in selling up at the right price.

But the Newcastle manager is hammering home the message that the Magpies can’t afford to dawdle on the recruitment front, firmly believing the squad he has at his disposal has exceeded expectations this season.

While Benitez is a big fan of the players he has, he also sees a lack of depth in terms of quality. Landing at least one new striker will be a priority.

Had Dwight Gayle not operated as well as he has or picked up an injury then Newcastle would have been in trouble – and that will not improve unless Benitez adds extra firepower.

With Islam Slimani facing an FA charge for his kick out at West Brom’s Craig Dawson on Saturday, if found guilty – with Alan Shearer suggesting over the weekend that he will - then that will effectively bring a premature end to an unsuccessful loan from Leicester City.

Slimani, who arrived with a thigh problem and didn’t play until the end of March, has only started once and appeared for a total of 131 minutes of Premier League football for the club.

Benitez will be looking at alternatives because the 29-year-old would also command a large chunk of the £29m the Foxes paid for him a couple of years ago. He is also on a reputed £80,000-a-week.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is unlikely to be back on Tyneside for pre-season. A lot could be determined by Fulham’s promotion bid, but his form at Craven Cottage has increased his suitors.

The Serbian has helped Fulham up to third and in contention for an automatic spot in the Championship by scoring 12 goals in 13 appearances since joining on loan.

His performances have meant Newcastle can increase the asking price to around the £20m mark for a 23-year-old who also scores regularly on the international stage.

Fulham will hope to go up this season to make a real effort to sign him permanently, although it has emerged Championship title winners Wolves are keeping an eye on things.

Middlesbrough tried to sign him late in the January transfer window, although they were annoyed with how a potential loan switch broke down – leaving them with no alternative option.

One of the players Newcastle are thought to have watched is Angers’ Karl Toko Ekambi, who has been made aware of interest from England from a number of clubs including Everton and Brighton.

There has been credited interest from Newcastle in Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, 21. He helped CSKA Moscow to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

His agent Alexander Manyakov said: “He needs to leave. As far as I know there are offers from Premier League clubs but not from the top six. I know that Southampton and Newcastle are showing an interest but he has a contract with CSKA.”

The Italian paper Il Mattino suggested Benitez is an option for president Aurelio de Laurentiis should Sarri leave. Marco Giampaolo, Lazio’s Simone Inzaghi and PSG’s Unai Emery also figure.

Benitez, however, is thought to have reservations about the structure of Napoli as a club and its training facility.