Rafa Benitez says Newcastle United need to increase their transfer budget this summer.

Toon managing director Lee Charnley made it clear this week Benitez's budget is based on the cash left over once costs are taken away from turnover — around £50m a year.

Benitez said: “If you want to compete against teams between seventh and 12th, how much money have they spent . . . £100m all of them.

“I don't say you have to spend £200m but you have to do things in a way where you can compete in the market.

“Our players, their families, are happy in Newcastle, even better than in London.

“But to sell that, you have to add something more — sometimes it's wages, sometimes it's a transfer fee."