RAFA BENITEZ has taken a personal stance not to talk about Newcastle United’s up-coming transfer window while he waits to hear if the business he craves can be struck to give the fight for survival a lift.

Having felt there was a deal in place for Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron a couple of weeks ago, the Magpies are still thought to be in discussions with the MLS champions to get the move over the line.

It is unclear what has held things up, although it is known Atlanta were looking for a fee that would break Newcastle’s £16m transfer record for a permanent deal to be done. A loan for the second half of the campaign with a view to a full-time £25m switch looked on the cards.

Benitez defended last week’s comments that it would be a “miracle” if Newcastle stay up this season because of the spending comparison with other Premier League clubs in the summer, but was not willing to discuss the finer details again at the club’s Darsley Park training headquarters.

“I don’t want to talk about that. If I don’t talk about it then you won’t need to analyse every single word I say,” said Benitez.

“I was talking to Lee Charnley yesterday (Thursday) and talking about the transfer window. I prefer not to talk too much, that is it, it is my decision.”

Newcastle head to tenth placed Watford on a run of just one win from their last six matches, but they still hold a five-point cushion over the relegation zone.

But after the trip to Vicarage Road, Newcastle face Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham in the following five games, so points against the Hornets look important as they approach the turn of the year – particularly when he has reiterated his “miracle” comment.

“I try not to lie to you. It’s also my feeling that (football is a lie), that is true,” he said.

“When I talk in this way it’s because I talk individually with some of them. They know the reality. Maybe some of them think differently. The squad, overall, they know that we have to do everything right to win games.

“They see each other in training. They know if we are focused like last season we can compete with other teams. As soon as someone thinks we are better than we are or start listening to pundits, then you struggle."

"My experience as a manager is getting the best from the players you have.”

And that is why Benitez feels he was able to come across negatively after the goalless draw with Fulham last weekend, when the home crowd at St James’ Park expected three points against the bottom club.

“I have had the conversation with the players after the game and the main thing is they understand what is going on, and the main thing for me is they do understand what is going on,” he added.  “We have to be really concentrated and focused on every single game. We cannot make mistakes. If we make mistakes we can lose against anyone and against the top sides it makes it even easier to lose. For us to get points, every thing has to be right and we can’t make mistakes.  “Watford we won 1-0 with a free-kick (Ayoze Perez header) but there were three or four counter attacks where we could have lost or even drawn the game. Fulham? I think we were in control of the game but in the last five minutes they had two chances and we could have lost.  “I continue saying, it will be really difficult, tough. Do I have confidence we can do it? Yes. But if we do, it will be because everything is right. It will be a miracle.”

While Benitez did not want to discuss possible signings at Newcastle and the state of transfer progress, he was happy to admit goalkeeper Rob Elliot can leave in the window. That means Leeds’ hopes of signing Karl Darlow, who is sidelined this weekend, are over.

“We are not selling players. There is only Elliot in the market because we have too many goalies,” said Benitez, And the Newcastle manager has dismissed suggestions there could be a swap deal involving Jonjo Shevley and Fulham’s Tom Cairney.  Fit-again Shelvey is likely to be back in the starting line-up at Watford following Ki Sung-Yeung’s departure for the Asian Cup and Benitez still values him highly.   “He’s fit, but we must decide. If you ask him now he’ll say, ‘100 per cent’. He has been training really well,” said Benitez.

“He’s an important player for us. Ki and him are the players who technically can pass the ball well and keep it, they give confidence to the rest of the team. I hope he will be as important as he was last year.”

Asked if Newcastle would consider selling Shelvey, Benitez replied: “No. No chance.”

Newcastle will be without Ciaran Clark because of an ankle problem, but otherwise there are no injuries to concern Benitez.

And after the heavy Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool, Benitez wants to see a positive response from his players at Watford regardless of the team he sends out - and he doesn't want to see heads drop.

He said: “My message was very clear after the game in the training session, you can lose against Liverpool, who are doing well because nobody is beating them. 

"The way we lost, the goals we conceded, the reaction after the second goal made it difficult for us and we have to show more character to show we are still in the game. 

"I was pleased with a lot of things I saw in the beginning but the reaction after conceding has to be better. We have shown we can be positive after problems before."