RAFA BENITEZ does not expect Newcastle United to strike a quick deal for Miguel Almiron when the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day, as fears grow that an agreement will not be reached at all.

The Magpies have been in deep discussions with Atlanta United for around a month aimed at getting something in place that would see the Paraguayan playmaker move to St James’ Park during January.

Even though Newcastle are understood to have agreed many details of a potential switch, there are still aspects that require further work and as things stand it looks like Almiron will not be heading to Tyneside after all.

The Major League Soccer player, who was regarded as the Most Valuable Player over the course of a season which saw Atlanta win the title, had looked set to head for St James’ on loan with a view to a £15m permanent switch.

Now, though, there have even been claims Atlanta have increased the asking price and that has contributed to the doubts hanging around the possibility of Newcastle signing the player.

Benitez is desperate for reinforcements over the next month and Almiron is perceived to be ideal to slot into the squad as competition to play the supporting striker role. He also wants additions in other areas.

But he is not confident deals will be done, and has left it in the hands of managing director Lee Charnley to negotiate incoming transfers and get the go ahead from owner Mike Ashley to finalise them.

Ashley is hoping to sell the club this month, although there has been a lack of progress over the festive period. The sportswear tycoon is not due to return from holiday until after Saturday’s FA Cup date with Blackburn, so it would also seem unlikely that a new player will be in Benitez’s squad before then.

Newcastle have seen their advantage over the relegation zone cut to three points, even though they were able to record a 1-1 draw at Watford on Saturday.

Benitez faces the challenge of having to stop the Manchester United revival at St James’ Park on Wednesday, knowing they have scored 12 goals in three games since Jose Mourinho’s departure.

It is the first time the Red Devils have gone on such a scoring run since 2011 and is a sign of how much the players are enjoying the new lease of life they have been given since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed.

Benitez said: “You have to be fair, the games he has managed already, they were games they had to win. That was clear and they have done that.

“We haven’t had to think too much about Manchester United until now, Watford was a tough game for us, and now we have to be ready for Manchester United, who have good players and can score goals.”

Solskjaer will take United to Newcastle confident and he has suggested that he does not want Romelu Lukaku to be a target man - unlike under Mourinho.

Lukaku was introduced against Bournemouth on Sunday having missed wins over Cardiff and Huddersfield. The £75m man found the net after a Paul Pogba brace and Marcus Rashford finish.

“At times he’s a good target man,” Solskjaer said. “But if you tell him to be a target man he’ll never face the goal. He was side-on and he’s got the attributes of a top, top striker. We need to work on his fitness, but I’m delighted. Even though he was half a yard offside, it was a good finish.”

Newcastle, meanwhile, have been told they will have 2,800 tickets for next week’s Checkatrade Trophy game at Sunderland.

That allocation is in line with previous visits to the Stadium of Light that the Magpies have made, even though on this occasion it will be the Under-21s facing the Black Cats’ first team in the competition.