Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle have agreed a fee for Swansea defender Federico Fernandez and the Argentine defender is having a medical with the club this afternoon.

The Magpies were first linked with Fernandez last month but he was seen as a plan B in their move for Fabian Schar.

Once Schar’s arrival was sealed from Deportivo, it seemed Newcastle’s pursuit of Fernandez was over but their interest has been revitalised after Florian Lejeune suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Newcastle had hoped for a loan deal for the 29-year-old defender, but Swansea are demanded a fee for his services.

Fernandez has admitted he would like to remain playing at the highest level following Swansea’s relegation to the Championship and he would be keen on a move to Tyneside.

Although talk of a deal for Fernandez isn’t lighting the fire of excitement among Newcastle fans, any deal would see Rafa Benitez manage the defender for the second time.

Fernandez worked under Benitez while the pair were at Napoli during the 2013/14 campaign, culminating in the club winning the Coppa Italia.

His performances that season saw him named in the Argentina World Cup squad and earned him a £10million move to Swansea.

Since then, his career hasn’t quite followed the trajectory expected but should a move materialise, it will be interesting to see whether his performances improve if he is back working under Benitez.

That 2013/14 campaign was arguably the best of Fernandez’s career and he feels it was down to Benitez’s management.

(Image: PhotoEye.co.uk)

Speaking to Il Matino after signing for Swansea in 2014, Fernandez said: “I already had the idea of playing in the Premier League, and when this interesting possibility arrived, Napoli and I found an agreement with absolute serenity.

“I was feeling good at Napoli, but the Premier League is attractive and is a fantastic league.

“The development I had under Benitez allowed me to move to the Premier League. Here football is different to Serie A.

“I appreciate Rafa a lot, and he sent me a good message when I joined Swansea. I thank him because he allowed me to grow. Last season he put faith in me and I learnt a lot. It prepared me for the Premier League.”

Benitez, of course, has overseen marked improvements in a number of Newcastle’s defenders during his time at the club.

Jamaal Lascelles has developed into one of the Premier League’s leading defenders under Benitez’s tutelage, while Paul Dummett has gone from scapegoat to one of United’s most dependable performers in the space of two years.

DeAndred Yedlin has consistently thanked Benitez for improving his defensive awareness, while Ciaran Clark went from defensive calamity at Aston Villa to arguably Newcastle’s Player of the Season in the 2016/17 campaign.

Sure, there will be doubts but fans can count on Benitez’s training ground work allowing him to improve.

The pair enjoyed a fruitful relationship five years ago and if they can rekindle that at Newcastle, it could well prove to be one of Benitez’s most shrewd pieces of business during his tenure.