Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez says he's met with managing director Lee Charnley about their winter market.

The Spaniard admits the summit went better than during his time at Liverpool, when he had to deal with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"I had a meeting with Hicks and Gillett one time and they were talking about money available and 'then we can go to the draft'. I said, 'What?'," laughed Benitez yesterday.

"Then I said, 'Listen, you have to go early to sign players, but if you lose games, you can be relegated'.

"They said, 'Relegated?'. I said, 'Yes, relegated!'."