THERE was deadline day disappointment on Tyneside, even though Rafael Benitez was delighted to be reunited with Federico Fernandez at Newcastle United.

Any faint hopes that Mike Ashley would sanction a late spending spree on deadline day never materialised, leaving Benitez left disappointed with a lack of success on the transfer front.

Newcastle have ended the summer transfer window having made a profit, and are still to break the club record transfer fee paid out on Michael Owen more than a decade ago.

That situation has angered supporters because there is an awareness that Benitez has been unhappy that the club under Ashley does not seem to share his ambitions.

The arrival of Fernandez from Swansea means Newcastle have brought in seven signings this summer, including two loans in the shape of Salomon Rondon and Kenedy.

There is a real sense that Benitez has had to fight for the deals that he has got over the line, and had to accept his targets have had to change when other top-flight clubs have invested more in the playing staff.

The former Liverpool manager was desperate for the sort of additions to boost the chances of steering Newcastle well clear of a relegation trouble this season. He actually hoped to improve on the tenth place finish he delivered last season.

Privately he will still be looking to achieve that goal but he knows the chances of that happening have been harmed by the level of transfer activity and the length of time it has taken to get things over the line.

Fernandez does provide Newcastle with the sort of experience Benitez wanted to add to his playing staff, knowing the 29-year-old has played in the Premier League for Swansea for the last four years.

Benitez has also worked with the South American before when they were at Napoli together in 2011. The £6m buy will make up for the loss of Florian Lejeune, who has had surgery on a cruciate ligament injury.

Benítez said: "I know Federico well from our time together at Napoli and it was an easy decision to bring him here.

"He is experienced, a very good professional and he will add competition in defence."

As well as the numerous targets Newcastle were unable to strike deals for over the course of the summer, it is also understood that they tried to sign Liverpool’s Ragnar Klavan, Stoke’s Erik Pieters and Barcelona’s Marlon Santos this week.

Santos was the one that looked like it would happen the most but they could not get a work permit over the line in time. Pieters would have provided cover at full-back, an area of the pitch where there remains a shortage of options for Benitez to call on.

Fernandez has 32 caps for Argentina and will now compete with Ciaran Clark and Fabian Schar for the right to play alongside captain Jamaal Lascelles at St James’ Park.

He said: "It was a long day but I’m really happy to be here. It’s a new challenge in my life and I’m very excited to meet all the players and staff here.”

Fernandez started his career with Estudiantes before moving to Napoli in 2011 where he worked under Benitez following his Liverpool exit.

He won the Copa Italia with Gli Azzurri in 2014 as well as playing in the Champions League. He then moved to Swansea in the summer of 2014 and went on to make 100 Premier League appearances, but was happy to leave following relegation to the Championship.

He will wear the number 18 shirt and will be in the squad to face Tottenham on Saturday, even though he is unlikely to start.

The big bonus for Benitez ahead of the start of the campaign was that Newcastle managed to keep hold of Lascelles, despite plenty of interest in him. In the end his £50m price-tag proved enough to put the likes of Everton, Chelsea and Tottenham off.

Newcastle did sanction one departure on deadline day. Striker Ivan Toney was allowed to join Peterborough in a £650,000 deal.