NUFC insider reveals how much we actually paid Swansea to sign Fernandez - This is incredible

Martin Hardy - one of the more reputable North East Journalists - claims Newcastle paid 'as little as £3-4m' to sign star centre-back Federico Fernandez from Swansea - a deal that looks set to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Fernandez has been very impressive so far (arguably our player of the season at present) so if it's true that he cost as little as £3m then we've got ourselves an absolute steal.

It was initially reported on deadline day that we paid around £6m for him - which is still good going - but to find we may have got him for half the price in this day and age (where clubs think they have to dish out £20m+ to get a good player) is even better:

Hardy writes for the Independent and is a reliable figure when it comes to all this NUFC, with him recently gaining behind the scenes access at the club when writing popular book 'Rafa's way'.

Fernandez isn't the only bargain we have had lately, with Ki looking a very good buy on a free transfer, Dubravka a huge success at just £4m and Swiss international Schar now looking the part after we paid his £3m release clause over the summer.

The Newcastle board and their transfer policy has real drawbacks, so thank goodness Rafa Benitez knows how to sniff out a bargain on a shoe string budget.

To think we now have FOUR quality centre halves in Lascelles, Lejeune, Schar and Fernandez that cost less that £20m combined is brilliant business - especially when many Premier League defenders with less quality would cost £20m alone.

If I was a Swansea fan I would be asking WHY their best defender, their captain and an Argentine international was allowed to leave for pennies, but it seems that Swansea's loss is our gain!