NEWCASTLE UNITED have agreed a deal that should see them sign Paraguay international Miguel Almiron ahead of Thursday night's transfer deadline.

Almiron is due to travel to Tyneside later tonight to complete a medical, with Atlanta having finally agreed a deal with Magpies officials.

The transfer is set to break Newcastle's long-standing transfer record, with the final fee set to be around £20m.

Atlanta had been holding out for at least $25m for Almiron, and had rebuffed Newcastle's initial offer of around £16m.

The Magpies have spent most of the month refusing to increase their bid, but relented in the last 24 hours. That resulted in a breakthrough that should see the attacking midfielder join Newcastle for the second half of the season.

Atlanta needed to sell one of their marquee stars after making signings of their own, and Almiron had long been regarded as their most vulnerable player.

Newcastle, who host Manchester City at St James' Park this evening, are also closing in on two loan signings.

Monaco full-back Antonio Barreca is set to move to Tyneside on a season-long loan, with Newcastle having resurrected their interest in him after a move for Lazio's Jordan Lukaku collapsed last week.

The Magpies are also hoping to finalise a loan deal for Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris.

Samaris, a 33-time Greece international, has been on Rafael Benitez's radar for a number of years.

Talks have taken place over the last 24 hours, although Samaris has been named in Benfica's starting line-up for this evening's Portuguese Primeira Liga game with Boavista.