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Rafa Benitez has urged Newcastle to be “more competitive” in the summer transfer market after they took a big step to retaining their Premier League status with victory at Leicester.
Ayoze Perez scored his first away league goal of the season with a glancing header as the Magpies recovered from back-to-back defeats to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle spent just over £20m last summer – plus a further £20m in January – and manager Benitez, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, says they can “compete” with teams in the top half of the league by doing the “right things”.
“You can do everything right with your tactics, but the other team has one player that can make the difference,” Benitez, whose side have moved up to 13th place, told Sky Sports.
“You’d have to pay £30m to buy a Leicester player.”
The Foxes started confidently, having won their previous four matches under Brendan Rodgers, but they struggled to play through their disciplined visitors.
Salomon Rondon almost handed the visitors a spectacular lead when he struck the crossbar with a powerful free-kick from 35 yards.
Newcastle remained resolute and were rewarded when Perez struck the decisive blow with over half-an-hour played.
The Spaniard rose well inside the Foxes’ box to meet Matt Ritchie’s cross and nod the ball over Kasper Schmeichel.
Rodgers’ first home defeat as Leicester boss sees his side remain in seventh, although eighth-placed Wolves are level on points with two games in hand.