NEWCASTLE UNITED are listening to offers for Grant Hanley after finally landing French defender Florian Lejeune.

The centre-back completed his £8.7m move from Eibar and was quick to reveal how the attraction of moving to Tyneside was to work under Rafael Benitez at such a “huge club”.

But Lejeune’s arrival means Benitez can step up efforts to move a defender or two on, with Hanley gaining the most attention at this stage from a string of Championship clubs, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday included.

Hanley moved from Blackburn last summer, but struggled to force his way ahead of Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark and was behind Chancel Mbemba in the latter stages too.

It would be a surprise if the Scotland international was still part of the Newcastle furniture come the start of the Premier League season, with Lejeune expected to be a fixture in the Magpies’ back four.

Benitez has looked to bring in the former Manchester City man all summer and, despite delays over the finer details, the 26-year-old has been signed in time to be involved in pre-season training from the start.

Lejeune said: “In all honesty, when a manager like Rafael Benitez wants you and insists that you join him, you can be nothing but very proud, and you want to join him.

“The factor was that he is one of the very best managers in the world. And when one of the best managers calls you and tells you he wants you to be part of his team, you know he will really push you to be your very best and, in part, it is thanks to him that I signed here.

“He was well aware of my abilities and spoke about what I would be able to achieve here in England. He said that the Premier League is the best in the world, that it is very physical and intense, and if I came to work with him I’d be able to achieve my personal goals.”

Lejeune did sign for Man City in 2015 but never played. He has had spells with Girona and Villarreal as well as Eibar, where he has been allowed to move on because of an £8.7m release clause.

Now he is focused on making his latest move to the Premier League a success, having previously felt as if he was left with a point prove.

He told the club’s website: “Newcastle is a great club, and one of the most emblematic in the whole of England. Some huge players have been here, not just French but also English, such as Alan Shearer.

“The stadium, St James’ Park, is amazing, with a fantastic atmosphere. So when a club like Newcastle comes calling, you can only be interested.

“It is a dream (to play in the Premier League). There are so many huge clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. At Newcastle, every weekend there is a big match involving the best players and it has always been my dream to play in this league. Now I am lucky enough to have this opportunity.

“I am delighted to have signed here at Newcastle, and I hope the fans will be proud. I will give everything I have out there on the pitch.”

Newcastle are looking to land more new signings quickly, with pre-season fixtures set to begin with a trip to Hearts a week on Friday. Confirmation, though, has arrived that Tammy Abraham has joined Swansea ahead of Newcastle.

Abraham, who was part of the England Under-21s squad at this summer’s European Championships, has agreed to go to the Liberty Stadium on a season-long loan after signing a five-year deal with Chelsea earlier in the day.