Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez says they should always be targeting top seven finish.

The Magpies all but clinched a third successive top-flight campaign with a 3-1 home victory over Saints.

Benitez said: “Our level, I think, has to be between seventh and 10th and we have to compete with these teams in the transfer window, in the wage bill and everything. We need to find a balance.

“We signed (Martin) Dubravka last year and he won the first game against Manchester United, and he's more than 24, we have (Miguel) Almiron doing well and we have (Salomon) Rondon, who are more than 24 and doing well.

“At the same time, we have (Isaac) Hayden, (Jamaal) Lascelles or even (Sean) Longstaff, so the balance is the key."