Rafa to target foreign loan market for Newcastle

The Magpies have already sent scouts over to the United States, where they are known to have registered an interest in Atlanta United striker Miguel Almiron.

There is strong competition for the Paraguayan international from England, with Arsenal known to be among the clubs also keen on the £25m-rated forward.

But Newcastle are not ruling anything out at this stage and have drawn up a list of options for the January transfer window, with loan and permanent signings under consideration.

Newcastle already have two domestic loans in the shape of Kenedy and Salomon Rondon, so the overseas market is an easier one to target.

“As far as the transfer window, with the budget and all these things, the first thing is to find the right players because you cannot bring players from the Premier League on loan as we have two players already,” said Benitez.

“We have to see abroad and see where we can maybe buy players from. Instead of doing that, you have to look for the players that you want - and then analyse who we can, or cannot, sign.

"At the moment it is too early, but we are working on names and players. Still though we do not have 'this one' that we are going for him because it is a little too early."

This time last year Newcastle had already done their homework on the goalkeeper they wanted and ended up landing Martin Dubravka on loan until the summer, when he completed a full-time switch from Slavia Prague.

Benitez said: "We try to see everywhere if we can. Apart from England - although we are also watching England - we are looking for options everywhere.

"We have to see everywhere because we have to consider who we can buy or loan or whatever. It's just to bring the players that, in your opinion, will be better for your squad and give you something different.

"Martin was an example from the Czech league, but we are watching every league; not just in Europe, either, we are watching America and all over. We are watching everything. America, South America, Asia - everything. We have a player from Japan, another from South Korea, so we know we can find players from everywhere.

"The teams at the top of the table in different leagues, it is very rare that the player will come here. It has to be someone that maybe you know, or know their agent, or you have some connection in some way.

"But it's quite difficult, so you have to see every league around the world, see the options, and then the first thing is: 'OK, this is the player. Can we buy them? Can it be a loan?' All these questions, but first we must find the players."

One alternative is to acquire either Kenedy or Rondon on a permanent basis from Chelsea and West Brom respectively. The latter is the likelier of the two, given that the Baggies are keen to sign Dwight Gayle.

Benitez, who also suggested goalkeeper Rob Elliot might head out on loan, added: "It's an option, but still it's too early for me to say that. For me, I have to see what happens in the next couple of weeks, see where we are and then work from that.

"Imagine that we find someone available, we realise we can make this movement in order to bring that player, but it will be difficult. The normal situation will be for us to look for something abroad."

Newcastle, who face Burnley on Monday at Turf Moor, are looking to build on their last two wins in a row before the international break.

The last two weeks could have been an opportunity for Benitez to agree a new contract but hinted there has been no progress on that, so not worth talking about. 

The Spanish boss will be without Paul Dummett at Burnley after he suffered a hamstring injury on duty with Wales. He was forced out of the game with Denmark and had to miss the following match with Albania.

Newcastle will assess the injuries to Jonjo Shelvey, Yoshinori Muto and Jamaal Lascelles before deciding if they can figure.