There are several transfers which can be classified as a Rafa Benitez signing – Liverpool fans particularly grew accustomed to them over the years, with the Spaniard quick to raid his homeland for a bargain.

Now at Newcastle United, Benitez’s decision to bring Florian Lejeune to the Premier League follows a familiar precedent.

Secured for just £8.7 million from Eibar, Lejeune is a shrewd addition for the Magpies.

He might not be on the Fernando Torres scale of Benitez signings from Spain, but the 26-year-old has shown enough in La Liga to suggest that he will survive and thrive in the English top flight. He certainly has the physicality required.

Beyond Lejeune, though, this summer has been a frustrating one for Benitez. Promoted from the Championship, there is an onus on Newcastle to sign the quality needed to stay in the Premier League.

The Magpies might be one of the biggest clubs in England but they must not assume their place in the Premier League will stick. They’ve made that mistake too many times in the past.



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Other than Lejeune, Newcastle have only added Jacob Murphy from Norwich City and signed Christian Atsu on a permanent deal from Chelsea.

Benitez insists he has been given assurances by owner Mike Ashley that more money will be spent, but with every passing week the Magpies look a little more lightweight ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

“When I had the meeting with Mike Ashley I was confident that we have the money available and the wages,” Benitez explained to reporters earlier this week.

“Everything is in place to move forward. Hopefully Mike can keep his word and we can do what we want to do.

“In January we didn’t sign players but we had £30m ready for the future, so now we are in a situation where we are going slowly but I still have confidence that everything will be fine after my meeting with Mike. He said that he would give us every last penny so hopefully he will do it and I’m confident that he will.”

The issue for Newcastle is that Ashley is a financial pragmatist. The club's fans have known that for years, frequently protesting against the businessman’s refusal to give their manager money to spend in the transfer market.

Ashley, in line with the businesses he owns, only spends money when there is a guaranteed return to be made.

That’s why Benitez should do something he has a natural propensity for anyway, he should keep looking to Spain for potential arrivals.

Lejeune’s addition is reflective of the value that can be found in La Liga. While the rest of the transfer market has inflated itself to a completely unprecedented and unmanageable level, Spain’s top flight still harbours more bargains than most.

Take Leicester City’s signing of Vicente Iborra, for example. He was one of Sevilla’s best players last season, helping the Andalusian club finish in the top four after mounting something of a title challenge until March. Yet Leicester were able to get their hands on Iborra for as little as just £15 million.

Everton have also taken advantage of Spain’s unique situation, signing Sandro Ramirez from Malaga for just £5 million.

He is considered one of the brightest young talents in the Spanish game right now, leading the line for the country’s Under 21s at this summer’s European Championships. Yet the Toffees secured him for a fifth of the price of Michael Keane.

Even clubs at the top of the food chain in Spain are making the most of this paradigm, demonstrated by Real Madrid’s capture of Real Betis midfielder Dani Ceballos for just €10 million.

Newcastle United could do a lot worse than to look to Spain’s top flight, pushing past the top three and looking into the rest of the undervalued talent in the country.

This scenario has arisen due to the high level of talent possessed by clubs with modest financial means. It’s a quirk of La Liga that for all its undoubted quality and global popularity, clubs in its lower echelon often find themselves financially crippled.

Premier League clubs can make the most of that in the transfer market. Benitez should look at the likes of Celta Vigo and Villarreal for value.

The former, in particular, highlighted their quality by taking Manchester United all the way in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Had John Guidetti sorted out his feet a little quicker, it would have them rather than Jose Mourinho’s men in the final.

Finding value in the transfer market has become all but impossible, particularly for Premier League clubs who find the prices of potential targets hikes as soon as their interest is registered.

There is a way for Newcastle United to get round this, though. Benitez just needs to focus on what he knows best.