Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has targeted five more signings before the transfer window closes in just over a fortnight.

The lengthy pursuit of the Stoke City forward Joselu now appears to be drawing towards the conclusion of a £5million deal and Benitez is also hopeful of persuading Kenedy to join the club on loan from Chelsea, after speaking to the player.

Newcastle are also assessing a move for the Legia Warsaw and Poland international Michal Pazdan, who has interested Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Real Betis, since impressing at Euro 2016.

At a shade under 6 foot tall, Pazdan is far from the archetypal Premier League central defender but the 29-year-old has come into Newcastle’s thinking as an experienced and affordable option - with a proposed fee in the region of £3million modest by today’s standards.

Telegraph Sport understands that a left-back, central defender, striker and goalkeeper are all positions that have been identified by Benitez, as requiring reinforcement, in a squad that appeared undermanned for the demands of the Premier League, a couple of injuries and half an hour into the new campaign.