Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has yet to be too active in the summer transfer window, and the Spaniard will certainly be hoping that their business ramps up in the coming days and weeks in order to ensure the improve upon their impressive 10th-place finish last term.

The 58-year-old, who should forget Nicolai Jorgensen and sign another 25-year-old World Cup ace instead, has often been at odds with owner Mike Ashley over transfer budgets, and he will surely be demanding he gets the money he needs to strengthen his squad as he wants to before the window slams shut on August 9.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss has already signed goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a permanent deal from Sparta Prague following a successful loan spell, and he will have more targets in mind – the majority of those are likely to be attacking reinforcements given they only scored 39 goals in their 38 Premier League fixtures last term.

While he will have some names on his list, perhaps he should also be considering bringing some familiar faces back to St James' Park too, as there are ex-players that can still make a difference for them on the pitch now, as well as continuing the feel-good factor that currently surrounds the club following their positiove 2017/18 campaign.

Here are three former Newcastle players Benitez must look to re-sign this summer…

The winger only played 13 times for Newcastle in the 2015/16 as his four goals weren't enough to save them from the drop down to the Championship, but rather than stay with the club that signed him on a permanent basis just a few months earlier, he stayed in the Premier League and joined Crystal Palace instead.

While he may not be popular for some of the St James' Park faithful for making that decision, he played a big role in the Eagles' brilliant turnaround during the 2017/18 campaign, playing as a striker as well as a winger.

Those are two positions the Magpies need strengthening in, and Benitez could be pulling off a coup by bringing the 26-year-old back to Tyneside.

If you have watched Thauvin in action for Marseille over the course of the past two seasons, you would not believe that it is the same player that struggled so much for the Magpies in the 2015/16 campaign.

The Frenchman only managed one goal in 16 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle as they suffered relegation from the Premier League, but he has been a huge hit since returning to his home country.

The 25-year-old scored 26 goals and provided a further 18 assists in 54 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit last term, and while he could come at a big price, he would be the sort of addition that would send a real statement out to the rest of the Premier League and to Benitez that they mean business.

With Aleksandar Mitrovic set to leave, Joselu struggling to make an impact and Dwight Gayle not a consistent enough goalscorer at Premier League level, there is no doubt that one of Benitez;s main priorities this summer is to sign a new centre-forward.

The Spaniard is yet to get a deal over the line for anyone however, and you have to wonder whether it could be a great move for all parties if he brings Carroll back to St James' Park seeing as he appears unlikely to be a starter under Manuel Pellegrini next term.

The 29-year-old scored 33 goals in 91 games for the Toon between 2006 and 2011, and while the striker has had his fair share of injury problems, he would bring a real presence and goal threat up top for the Magpies.

Do you agree, Newcastle fans? Let us know below.