Gael Clichy/Bacary Sagna

One area which Benitez must prioritise this summer is his defence. There are still a number of players in the squad, including centre-backs Jamaal Lascelles and Chancel Mbemba, who were part of the Newcastle side relegated in 2016. While the remaining players and new recruits have proven their worth in the Championship with a series of solid displays, the Spanish manager will know he needs to improve if he hopes to secure Premier League survival.

For this reason, he should stump up a deal for either, or both, of Manchester City’s full-backs. Both Clichy and Sagna are two of the top flights most experienced defenders and would add some much needed stability to Newcastle’s back line. Left-back Paul Dummett found his level in the second-tier, while DeAndre Yedlin needs some much needed competition on the right side, following Vurnon Anita’s departure.