OPINION
As is so widely known across English football, Rafael Benitez is working off a shoestring budget under Mike Ashley at Newcastle United – at a time where transfer fees are as high as they have ever been.
The Toon Army have had to resign themselves to the fact that, when the likes of Liverpool are breaking the record for the most expensive goalkeeper in history, and West Ham are breaking their own transfer record with a fee reported by the Independent to reach £42million, they are a small fish in a big pond when it comes to spending.
Last summer saw Benitez forced to scour the market for cheap deals, resulting in the less than impressive capture of Javier Manquillio and Joselu – although Florian Lejeune and Mikel Merino both impressed last season.
This summer seems to be no different, and bargains are the only way forward for the St James’ Park outfit – but with price tags skyrocketing, Benitez could be onto the deal of the summer.
The Chronicle claim that the club have been in talks with Deportivo La Coruna, relegated from La Liga last summer, over a potential move for Swiss international centre back Fabian Schar – with a cut-price release clause of just £3million on the cards.
Now £3million was a big fee for clubs back in 1996, when Newcastle were breaking the world record price for the capture of Alan Shearer at £15million, but nowadays it is absolute peanuts for Premier League sides – the sort of money that is picked up from featuring on Sky Sports for two or three games in a season.
With 42 caps for his country, Schar is no mediocre defender, despite being at a relegated club, and at 26-years-old, he is at his absolute prime, with plenty of years left to go in his career.
Clubs might be splashing cash around like there is no tomorrow, but the value of an absolute bargain cannot go unnoticed – and that is exactly what Newcastle have found in Schar.