Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is having his scouts trawl the German market.

The Evening Chronicle says Newcastle scouts have been in Germany recently and are taking a good look at the Bundesliga.

Benitez is waiting to compile a list of scouting reports on several targets before producing a January shortlist.

He said: “It's too early. We're watching players but that's it, nothing else. We have to concentrate on our football now.

“Our scouting department are out there and we are watching a lot of players.

“You can't stop agents talking or clubs talking who want to put players on the market, but there is no target we are currently talking to. We are monitoring a lot of players.

“But we are focusing on football and the scouts know what they have to do."