Newcastle United are close to completing the £5m transfer of Davide Santon from Internazionale. The attacking left-back seems poised to replace José Enrique, who joined Liverpool earlier this month.

Santon also interests Roma but his agent indicated they were the 20-year-old Italy international's second choice. "At this time there is no possibility Santon can join Roma because the aim is Newcastle," Claudio Vigorelli said.

Alan Pardew, Newcastle's manager, had believed the club were on the point of signing Erik Pieters from PSV Eindhoven last week but the £7m deal for the Holland international hit a snag as did another move for Lyon's Aly Cissokho. Newcastle officials spent some time in France at the weekend, negotiating to sign Cissokho before leaving empty-handed.

Although Pardew would like to recruit a midfielder to replace Joey Barton, who has joined QPR, his priorities are securing a left-back and an extra striker.

"It's very important we get at least two players in this week," said Pardew, who has seen his board's determination to play hardball in transfer talks scupper certain deals.

The Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga remains among Pardew's attacking targets with a £7m deal still a possibility but other options are being explored. These include trying to lure Nicklas Bendtner, who also interests Sunderland, from Arsenal but the Danish forward's wages could prove a stumbling block.

Petr Bolek, a Czech goalkeeper, has arrived at St James' Park on trial with a view to a season-long loan from Slovakia's FK Senica as cover for Tim Krul and Steve Harper.