Sean Dyche refutes Rafa Benitez's claims Newcastle cannot compete with Burnley in the transfer market

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Sean Dyche has swatted aside Rafa Benitez's claim that Newcastle cannot compete with Burnley in the transfer market.

Benitez is thought to be unhappy with the financial backing he has received since restoring the Magpies' Premier League status.

 He suggested at the weekend that the club were priced out of deals in the summer.

Sean Dyche dismissed claims Newcastle can't compete with Burnley in the transfer market

That in itself may come as no surprise, but the fact Burnley, Huddersfield and Bournemouth were among the sides he cited as having larger budgets for fees and wages did raise eyebrows, not least Dyche's.

'Someone sent me that, we're probably not the best example to use,' he said.

'Certainly not on wages. I don't think we're up there yet. It's probably stretching it a little bit to include us in that. 

'I'd be surprised if we're thrown in the mix with that company on a wage scale.

'But I understand his point, trying to bring some reality that Newcastle historically have probably been more powerful financially than at this moment.'

Rafa Benitez said Newcastle could not compete financially with Burnley in the summer

Dyche's side operate one of the tighter budgets in the top flight, with a firm grip on wages.

But he has been allowed to break the club's transfer record four times in less than 18 months.

Steven Defour, Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady and £15million summer arrival Chris Wood all nudged the Clarets towards new heights but Dyche admits identifying and landing key targets is only getting harder. 

'It's incredibly tough, constantly,' he said.

Dyche has broken Burnley's transfer record four times in 18 months, recently with Chris Wood

'We're looking at options constantly, where you go to get your players and for what reason. The margin of difference now is enormous to go to the obvious next level.

Adding: 'That's something (else) that Benitez did say. I think one of the things he said was, ''if you want a top striker, it's £40m''.

'He's right there because to make the big jump, where you are hedging your bets strongly that they're going to better you, that's not like a couple of million anymore. It's a huge jump.

'The market has moved forward.'