Rafa Benitez says Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley knows what is needed if he is to stay.

Benitez wants to see the Magpies show some vision and ambition in the summer window as he bids to end years of fighting relegation on Tyneside.

He told Marca: "The owner (Mike Ashley) knows it: me and my team are looking for a future project, competitive and ambitious.

"Let's see if we are in the same line.

"It does not depend on what I believe.

"I stayed in Newcastle and it was a high risk.

"We could not save them the first year, we missed a couple of games, but the next we went up.

"It is a top club and to stay was a sign that we are professional coaches.

"We are in it to win titles, avoid a descent or whatever.

"Then the idea was to invest to enter the top 10, but the money did not reach the expected level.

"Now we are once again solving a problem of that lack of investment."