Benitez 'not happy' with lack of summer signings

After steering Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, the Spaniard was promised that he would have 'every last penny' to spend by owner Mike Ashley, though that has not proved to be the case.

The Magpies' biggest signing so far has been the £12m capture of Jacob Murphy from Norwich, though the 'Toon Army' did also invoke Florian Lejeune's £8.7m release clause at Spanish side Eibar.

Speaking ahead of Newcastle's Premier League season opener against Spurs on Sunday, the former Real Madrid boss said: 'I am not happy, but at the same time for me it's a challenge. I try to do my best.'

Benitez admitted that Newcastle had missed out on some early targets, with Willy Caballero, Tammy Abraham, Joe Hart and Fabian Delph believed to have been among them, and that the 'crazy' market was punishing them for it.

'It is very hard, the prices are crazy,' he said. 'We missed some targets at the beginning and we're paying for that. Hopefully we can find solutions and bring what we need. It's not what you want, it's what you need.'

'When I decided to stay for me it was a challenge. I'm not totally happy with what we did, but I will try to do my best. I'm working very hard with the people in the club to try to improve what we have at the moment.'

Despite his frustration, the 57-year-old batted away a question about his future with a joke.

'It's very difficult for me because my Chinese is not good enough,' he said, in a reference to supposed interest in his services from several Chinese Super League clubs.

'I am trying to do my best right now. It is something you cannot control but at the moment I am fully committed to doing the best that I can,' he concluded.