Signing Confirmed: GRANT HANLEY

The Rafalution continues a pace with yet another signing, this time in the form of Blackburn Captain Grant Hanley.

The 6ft 2inch tall Scotland International joins from fellow Championship side Rovers on a five year contract for a fee believed to be in the region of £5.5m after a long chase for the player by Newcastle United and boss Rafa Benitez.

Of the player Rafa seems suitably delighted and posted this on his Twitter account:

For sure Hanley will add some much needed depth in the fight for a first team place at centre back following the release of both Taylor and Colo. The player himself also was glowing in his endorsement of his move, as you would expect, stating “It’s a fantastic opportunity to come and play at such a big club and one I couldn’t turn down’. He went on to say ‘this is an exciting step……and I’m looking forward to helping Newcastle back to the Premier League.

Grant is only 24 and has been Captain at Blackburn since early 2014 playing 201 times for the senior team after coming through their youth system having been spotted by Rovers playing for Rangers at 17.

Whether he will be able to push either Lascelles, who Rafa seems to think very highly of, or Mbemba out of the first team remains to be seen. A welcome addition all the same.

With the loss on Wijnaldum imminent attention will now surely switch to reinforcements in a more advanced position.