Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez admits they're in the market for a new defensive midfielder.

Newcastle United dynamo Cheick Tiote is being linked with a Blues move in January.

Benitez said in The Times: "You need to know the players and find the balance.

"If you have too many players with quality - these players we were talking about, all dynamic but cannot regain the ball - you do not have the balance.

"If you give the ball away, you have to regain [it]."