Everton boss Rafa Benitez expects a busy January market.

The Blues were able to bring in five senior arrivals over the course of the last few months with very little money being spent on those signings.

He admitted: "I'm really happy with the players that we brought in, because they are the players we needed.

"They know what we're looking for and the commitment of these players is very clear for everyone to see. They know what we want, they know what the fans want here and they know how hard we have to work.

"We didn't spend a lot of money, but we had good signings.

"It could be better, yes, because if you have more money you can do it. But the financial fair play rules were killing us in this window.

"Hopefully in the next window it will be different, but the players we brought were players that we needed. Maybe we needed players in more positions, but it's what we could do and I think we did quite well."

Despite being eventually happy with the players that were brought in, Benitez hasn't ruled out making moves in the January transfer window.

The Blues have not traditionally been big players in the winter market in recent years, but the manager would not be averse to bringing new talent in if necessary.

He added: "I was not expecting at the beginning [financial difficulties] because I was thinking maybe we could sell some players and then we could do well in the window.

"We adapted quickly and we did well, so I'm really pleased with that.

"When I say 'next window', hopefully it will be January if it's necessary. If we are doing so well that in January we don't need anybody, I think everybody will be happy here.

"But you never know. We have to start working now, thinking about how to improve the squad, first of all on the pitch, and then afterwards bring in players if we can."

In the final days of the most recent transfer window, Everton were linked with a late move for Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.

However, Benitez has explained that the transfer was never really on the cards.

"Van De Beek was a name that was at the end of the window, I think it was not easy for us," the boss concluded.

"In the last couple of days, all the agents throw a lot of names out. He was one of these names, and is a good player for sure, but I don't think that we had too many chances."