Rafa Benitez has made an 11th-hour plea to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to sign the players they need to stay in the Premier League.
The pair spoke over the phone on Tuesday morning - it is only the third time they have done so since last season - as Benitez outlined the last-minute options which are available to them after this week’s failed loan move for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who instead joined West Brom.
Ashley will not pay the £22million Feyenoord want for forward Nicolai Jorgensen - Benitez believes the Dane is worth the asking price - and it has left the manager scrapping around for signings on the final day of the window.