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Newcastle United are monitoring West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Chelsea’s Holland midfielder Marco van Ginkel – as Steve McClaren starts work assembling a backroom team for the job ahead.

McClaren will be confirmed as the club’s head coach next week, and has already contacted one well-regarded local coach about joining his team in some capacity. But he will wait to speak to John Carver, Andy Woodman and Steve Stone when he returns from holiday before deciding on the exact composition of his backroom team – with United’s goalkeeper coach weighing up the possibility of moving to Crystal Palace.

What McClaren’s appointment will do is give United more leverage when talking to targets, with several representatives holding off on a decision until Newcastle had made a decision on their new boss.

United intend to add six first team players to their squad with QPR’s Charlie Austin a priority target for one of the TWO striker slots the club want to fill. And West Brom’s Berahino, who is unsettled at the Hawthorns, is another option for United as they do background work on players who could realistically be persuaded to leave their clubs for the right amount.

The England under-21 striker is one of a number of domestic options available as Newcastle, perhaps somewhat surprisingly given the cost of players in the English market, look to reinforce their squad. They also wanted Danny Ings, who has chosen Liverpool.

Perennial target Andy Carroll might also come into the thinking – but only if West Ham were to offer him for a knockdown price.

Newcastle are also looking at Van Ginkel, who spent last season at AC Milan. They were in the running for him when he originally signed for Chelsea.

But there will be no move for Andre Ayew, the Marseille free agent who was interesting them earlier in the year. United do not think he represents value for money.