Rafa Benitez has compared his situation at Newcastle United to driving a Formula One car - and insists there is a "limit" to how far he can take the Magpies unless they are willing to invest in order to become more competitive.

The 59-year-old is currently embroiled in contract discussions with the Magpies hierarchy over a potential contract extension, given that his current deal expires on June 30.

But he is yet to receive the "answers" or assurances he wants before he will commit his future to United, and Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles has admitted that the players are growing increasingly concerned their manager could depart this summer.

Benitez wants greater control over how Newcastle conduct transfers, to be given flexibility with their transfer blueprint, as well as the funds to offer wages and transfer budgets which can ensure United are competitive with the likes of Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City when it comes to fighting for a seventh-placed finish.

During an interview with TalkSport, Benitez used the F1 analogy in an attempt to explain why he can only take Newcastle so far on limited resources.

The Spaniard was keen to stress he likes to coach youngsters and to help them develop - he cited his previous career as a PE teacher, as well as the fact he has two of his former youth products at Real Madrid in Antonio Gomez Perez and Mikel Antia on his Magpies coaching staff, as evidence of this - but that he needs quality, experienced players within his playing ranks if Newcastle are to improve.

As Benitez states, a skilled F1 driver may be able to manoeuvre a slower car around corners more adeptly than some of their rivals, but the faster vehicles will eventually pass them once they reach a straight.

Namechecking Chelsea's Eden Hazard as a player who "can make the difference on his own", Benitez made it clear that Newcastle need to sign better players if they are to have a chance of competing for a seventh-placed finish.

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez

While Benitez backs his ability to get the most out of his players, he has suggested successive mid-table Premier League finishes are perhaps as far as the Magpies' current squad can go.

"I am a coach coming from the academy system. When I was at Real Madrid, two members of my staff [Perez and Antia] were my players when they were 16 years old," Benitez said during an interview on TalkSport when asked about Newcastle's preferred recruitment model of signing players under the age of 26.

"You can improve players, you can coach them, but you have a limit. We know that we have a limit.

"If you are in Formula One, you go, and the other one is faster than you; OK in the bends maybe you can do well - but, after, they will pass you.

"We have to decide that. I can do this because I like to coach players - I am a PE teacher - and I like to improve players. But, at the same time, you know that Hazard can make the difference on his own.

"You need help to be sure that you can compete where this club needs to be, and deserves to be. For me, that is to be seventh, or close to seventh. At the moment, that would be the ideal situation."

Recruitment is a priority sticking point for Benitez during contract talks - but it is not merely the potential transfer budget of around £100million (plus the money generated from player sales) over the next two seasons which he will be afforded that is a potential issue.

Benitez also wants Newcastle to conduct their business in a more efficient and slick manner; if United cannot compete financially with other sides, their manager believes they need to sign players early if they are going to have a chance of landing the best talent.

What's more, Benitez also desires the flexibility to bring in experience where necessary, rather than focus solely on signing players under the age of 26 - with the permanent acquisition of on-loan forward Salomon Rondon something the Magpies managers wants to see completed this summer.

"At this stage of the season, you have to make decisions. If you want to sign players, you have to do it now," Benitez added.

"You cannot be talking, and talking and talking. You cannot pay more money than some of the other teams - so you have to go early, you have to find the right ones that you need, and you have to do it now.

"Can we do it? If we can, we have to do it now. If not, we have to move on. The club is more important than us, so we have to decide if it is this way, or the other way.

"I make mistakes, I have made so many in my life. But when you have won some trophies, it is because you are right more than you are wrong."