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Newcastle United will confirm the cut-price capture of Stoke City striker Joselu today – but Rafa Benitez expects to see more movement before the August 31 transfer deadline.

Joselu passed the first part of his medical on Monday and there only remains some paperwork and formalities to complete before Newcastle confirm their sixth signing of the transfer window before the end of the day.

He represents another option for Benitez up front, where he is still hoping to add another striker before the deadline to give him some potential for variation in his attacking options over the autumn and winter months.

Joselu was not one of the priority targets Benitez supplied Lee Charnley with but he believes that there is untapped potential in a player who has struggled to make a mark at Stoke but has ability and hunger to prove himself in the Premier League. He scored four times in two games in Stoke’s pre-season campaign and has looked sharp enough to convince Benitez that he represents good value for money at £5million.

Benitez likes his mentality and while he is honest enough about signing players he needs rather than had wanted as a priority, he’ll feel relieved that Newcastle have at least managed to broker one more deal in a summer beset by recruitment difficulties.

Benitez also expects to sign Kenedy on loan – even though that deal has been complicated by agent issues and Chelsea’s own internal wranglings. The Brazilian was on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley but he will go out on loan, and Newcastle are in the driving seat for that deal.

United’s manager still want to sign a goalkeeper, further defensive cover and a midfielder – as well as a striker. But there will have to be outgoings in the coming weeks as well, with Manu Riviere, Massadio Haidara, Tim Krul and Jack Colback all expected to leave in the coming days if clubs can be found for them.

The situation behind-the-scenes at United has become confusing and concerning over the summer months and the fact Benitez and Mike Ashley did not speak on Sunday hardly helped. But despite pundits lining up to predict Benitez will walk, he is determined to stay in the short-term at least – partly because he has told many of the players he has signed that he will be here. Several of them have moved to play for him, and Joselu is part of that group.

Quite what that means for the medium and long-term at St James’ Park is unclear, but the short-term focus is on shoring up a squad that still requires plenty of work to be balanced and good enough to hit the mid-table finish that Ashley said he wants this season.