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It’s amazing what a bit of pressure can do.

Pressure from supporters, of course. The feeling that the walls are closing in on Newcastle United’s season has contributed too. So has Steve McClaren imploring the board that he’s “not that far away” from turning the Magpies into a competitive force and validating the biggest call the club made in 2015 (waiting a heck of a long time and risking their safety last season in the belief that McClaren was the right man).

But it’s the pressure Mike Ashley has applied to Managing Director Lee Charnley to “get deals done” that has encouraged United to recruit the way they have this month.

Newcastle’s owner might not have a day-to-day involvement at United. It is not his money he wants them to spend - it’s the club’s - but he still very sets the tone from the top. If he gives the nod, the mood changes – and he made it very clear that he wanted change.

The money is there but previously, the will had been in question. Charnley stood accused by those in the game of pushing for the “perfect deal” – a big difference from this month, when United have paid £12million and paid an English player premium for someone who has not completed many more than 50 appearances.

Andros Townsend is a risk, so too is Jonjo Shelvey. Alan Pardew had wanted both but never had a chance of getting either. How he must look on in bemusement at the £100million spend at a club which he said he left because they didn’t have a “transfer agenda” to meet his own.

Now Newcastle are a striker and left-back away from making five signings; they are currently the world’s biggest spenders. For all that their own incompetence has forced their hand, it’s a show of intent and support for their manager – but it’s also going to be tinged with regret if they don’t get the one man they tilted their entire month around.

Saido Berahino is now a two-window obsession for Newcastle and they’re not even ready to give up yet.

By hook or by crook, the club have ascertained Berahino is keen to move to St James’ Park. He sees it as a step up – progression, if you will – and knows United would triple his wages at the Hawthorns. Tottenham was his first choice but enthusiasm at White Hart Lane seems to have dimmed.

Plus Newcastle seem to have formulated a new USP for their big deals. Come to us, we’ll be signing other Young Lions and Roy Hodgson will start taking notice.

And to be fair, the England boss might note the form of Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey – now main men at a club they believe is a big one, rather than fringe or unfulfilled talents.

United’s changed tack was obvious from the outset.

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The tone was set early. United could break their transfer record if the right player came up and Newcastle made overtures in the days leading up to the January window to Alexandre Lacazette, the Lyon forward. L’Equipe broke the story and United denied it.

They had not wanted to draw attention to possible spending – Steve McClaren was told not to talk about business, a call that he heeded – and the French story blew their cover a bit.

He’s a player they’ve always liked but there was the familiar problem for clubs in January: his official agents were uncertain about his intentions, but others contacted the club to say he was keen. In the confusion, Newcastle went back to Berahino.

Others they liked came and went. The focus was almost exclusively on English talent – a reflection on the need for more homegrown players to fit the Premier League quota - and Benik Afobe was on the radar. £8million was a bit too much.

United’s football board had also recommended Leeds’ Sam Byram – who ended up at West Ham. They didn’t get involved after initial enquiries.

United wanted to do long-term deals this month and have done them so far.

The spadework was done on Shelvey, Townsend and Henri Saivet long before they unveiled the trio of new arrivals but the problems with the Berahino deal may force them into the kind of deals they would have walked away from previously.

Seydou Doumbia has been offered around half of the Premier League. Talented though he is, Newcastle would normally have said ‘Thanks but no thanks’ to quick fixes. They’d rather take the risk than take the player but the predicament they’re in makes them unable to take that stance.

It’s the same at left-back: short term investment to get them through to the end of the season. Most un-Newcastle like but a sign of increased flexibility in their approach. That’s a good thing – progress of sorts.

Still, Berahino remains the one they really want to do. They’ll be back in the summer if they don’t do it next week but it’ll be even more complicated then – Spurs will be back in play and so might others.

United also have a centre-back to find and the summer will be complicated by the possible exits of Moussa Sissoko and Daryl Janmaat. Names to watch out for? Jetro Willems is one. Other ambitious targets are bubbling away in the background.

First things first, they need to get the striker and left-back on board. All the signs are they’ll do that – and then hope that McClaren’s optimism about better performances is justified.

Relegation is a clear and present threat. Nothing that has been done so far suggests they’re going to be clear of it anytime soon.

But credit - of sorts - to the club. Yes, they have created their own problems. Had they been more savvy and, in short, better they wouldn’t be in this sorry mess. The jury is still out on the triangle of power.

This month has been better, though. If they do their two deals this window has changed the agenda.