Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is confident the club are closing in on their third January signing.
Elsewhere, the Magpies boss discussed a recent transfer meeting with Amanda Staveley and Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Here are your Newcastle United headlines for January 28.
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Transfer incoming?
Eddie Howe says Newcastle United believe they are "close" to making their third signing of the January window.
With Bruno Guimarães set for a medical ahead of the club's purchase from Lyon, Howe was still not in a position to confirm the £33.5million deal.
But, speaking from Jeddah, Howe did say: "Nothing on individual players.
"But we are hopeful we're close to completing a transfer on a player."
Transfer summit
Eddie Howe has offered details of Newcastle United's high level transfer summit with the club's wealthy backers from Saudi Arabia.
The meeting included co-owner Amanda Staveley and representatives from the Public Investment Fund including Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
The Magpies have been backed by funds of more than £80million so far in this window and it could go beyond that by the time the window shuts for business.
Friendly victory
Newcastle United picked up a 2-1 against Al-Ittihad in a mid-season friendly at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
The Magpies named a strong line-up in front of watching dignitaries as well as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Neil Compton.
Newcastle asked for the game to be played 35 minutes each way with temperatures still at 22 degrees and Eddie Howe's side going into the match on the back of a hard week of training.
Parker's backing
Scott Parker has backed Andy Howe to become a success at Newcastle in his new scouting role.
Howe, the nephew of Toon boss Eddie, left Bournemouth after 10 years to take up a position as part of Steve Nickson’s scouting network at St James’ Park.
DorsetLive claim Howe junior had attracted interest from other Premier League clubs but decided to join Newcastle and link up with his uncle.
Injury update
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been boosted by the return of defensive duo Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez in training over in Jeddah.
Lascelles limped off with a hamstring injury at Leeds with the game evenly poised at 0-0 but has returned to training in the Middle East.
Fernandez has not played since early December and has been missing with a thigh problem.
Schar on mentality
Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar says the win over Leeds United has given the dressing room a massive lift in their bid for Premier League survival.
Jonjo Shelvey's second-half strike handed the Magpies a vital victory at Elland Road to move them to within a point of 17th-place Norwich City heading into the winter break.
It could prove to be a massive result in the context of Newcastle's season as Eddie Howe tries to keep the club in the top-flight after failing to win any of their opening 14 matches.
However, the win over Leeds may now give them a boost and something to build on when the Magpies take on struggling Everton at St James' Park on Tuesday, February 8.
Bissouma message
Former England winger John Barnes believes Yves Bissouma should turn down Newcastle United and Aston Villa and wait for a move to Liverpool in the summer.
The Brighton & Hove Albion man has been linked with a switch to Tyneside in the January transfer window as Eddie Howe aims to strengthen his midfield ahead of the remainder of the season.
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However, the Seagulls are determined to keep hold of the Mali international and fight off interest from Newcastle and Steven Gerrard's Villa, who also want to sign him.
Bissouma has made 100 Premier League appearances since joining Brighton from Lille for an undisclosed fee and his form has attracted attention from some of the top clubs around Europe.
