Newcastle eye sensational January double swoop for West Brom and Tottenham stars

NEWCASTLE are set to take their spending under Steve McClaren to over £100m with a double swoop for West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Tottenham winger Andros Townsend.

 

Newcastle are eyeing a double deal for Tottenham's Andros Townsend and West Brom's Saido Berahino

 

The Magpies have already splashed out £17m this month on Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet.

Now they are closing in on Berahino and Townsend and increasingly confident the pair could be available for Saturday's trip to Watford.

A feelgood factor has swept through St James' Park in the past week culminating in the 2-1 win over West Ham which lifted McClaren's side out of the relegation zone.

 

Owner Mike Ashley had sanctioned a major recruitment drive to protect his own investment amid growing concerns at their position near the foot of the table.

Newcastle spent £53m last summer on Gini Wijnaldum, Chancel Mbemba, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Florian Thauvin.

While the first two have been big successes, the jury is still out on raw striker Mitrovic while Thauvin will be allowed to return to former club Marseille on loan after a disastrous five months in England.

 

Despite being among the Premier League's biggest spenders in the close season, Newcastle have managed just five League wins and been knocked out of both cup competitions at the first hurdle.

While the four points in the past week have lifted spirits inside the club and among fans, McClaren has told managing director Lee Charnley that to guarantee survival, the squad still needs to boost its firepower.

Papiss Cisse is ruled out for six weeks and Mitrovic, who missed several chances against the Hammers, has managed just four goals.

 

Now Ashley is ready to bankroll the signings of Berahino and Townsend with both players having indicated they would be keen on a move to the North-east.

Shelvey was told during talks last week that the club were after the pair, a key factor in his decision to leave Swansea for another club in apparent trouble at the foot of the table.

Newcastle are prepared to meet the Baggies' £18m valuation of Berahino but the situation is less clear-cut with Townsend and a loan deal remains possible if an agreement with Spurs cannot be reached.

Serie A giants Napoli are interested in Toon midfielder Moussa Sissoko but there is no pressure on Newcastle to sell, and the Frenchman looks set to stay put at least until the summer.