"He has taken a significant pay cut and it is never something I thought I would say about a player in this day and age."

Never has there been a truer word spoken by Aston Villa manager David O'Leary after capturing Nolberto Solano.

It is exactly that sort of attitude from the skilful Peruvian winger which suggests Sir Bobby Robson has made a massive error in judgement.

Solano, citing first team football as his reason for leaving, is one of those rare breeds in football these days. Dedicated to his profession and desperate to make the most of his time in a privileged position.

The 29-year-old's determination to represent his country has been Robson's major concern and that has eventually led to him agreeing to a bargain £1.5m move to Villa.

It was not so long ago that a string of top European clubs - including Real Madrid - were being touted as a possible destination for Solano and fees of £10m were regularly talked about.

So you can't help but feel that O'Leary has got a snip and a true professional as well. The Magpies' loss certainly looks like being Villa's gain.

It is understandable that the fanatical St James' Park faithful are fuming over the decision to sell Solano, after all they have looked at their best when the South American and Laurent Robert have been played on either wing.

Now Robson - also armed with the £2m from striker Carl Cort's departure - is frantically trying to ease that unrest on Tyneside by making a new signing before Monday's extended transfer window deadline.

A new right-back, namely Tottenham's Stephen Carr, is the priority but there will be little chance of Newcastle splashing the sort of cash being thrown about by the Premiership's top three.

Jose Antonio Reyes has gone from Sevilla to Arsenal, Louis Saha's switched Fulham for Manchester United and now Scott Parker has left Charlton for Chelsea. All for a combined £42m-plus total.

Ironically, on the day Solano was praised for taking a pay cut to earn his dream move, the same could not be said of Parker.

The 23-year-old, who made his name by performing in a McDonald's advertisement as a schoolboy, is understood to have tripled his wages by moving from Charlton to Chelsea.

The £10m man has been at the Valley for 12 years but loyalty went out of the window when the Bridge billionaires came calling this week. But do you blame him?

Under Alan Curbishley, Charlton have been on the up for some time. But they are unlikely to go much further. Whereas at Chelsea there is every chance he will fulfil every football dream he has ever had.

The problem for Parker will be trying to convince Tinkerman Claudio Ranieri that he is worth his place every week. After all he is one of 15 middle-men.

Nine of whom - Makelele, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Stanic, Geremi, Petit, Veron, Gronkjaer - have all been expensive buys in their own right.

There's only one thing left to say, good luck Parker you are going to need it.