Newcastle Are "Close" To Making Their Second Big Signing Of The Summer

Newcastle United are "close" to wrapping up their second big signing of the summer, insists head coach Steve McClaren. The Magpies paid for a woeful opening 45 minutes as they succumbed 2-1 to Club Atlas in Milwaukee, yet McClaren's men will receive a much-needed shot in the arm when £14.5 million recruit Georginio Wijnaldum's flight touches down on Wednesday. And, with deals for Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin and Schalke 04 centre-back Joel Matip just some of those in the pipeline, McClaren is confident another new face will join the club imminently.

Mitrovic is the deal that is believed to be closest to completion and, quoted in The Chronicle, McClaren said after his opening defeat as Newcastle boss:

"The plans continue and work goes on behind the scenes back home. We're close (to another signing). "Wijnaldum comes out tomorrow and that will be good - we'll get him in with the boys. "With recruitment we will wait and see. "But from what I have saw in the last two weeks I have been very pleased with the boys."

Turning his attention to the defeat to Mexican Liga MX side Club Atlas, McClaren was bemused as to how Newcastle could not find at least an equaliser. Although second best for much of the first-half and lucky to just be 2-1 down at the break following Moussa Sissoko's 45th-minute strike, the Magpies dominated the second 45 but could not find the breakthrough. McClaren continued:

"I don€™t know how we never scored a second. "The one (Papiss Cisse's effort) on the line and two good chances and a cross or two as well. That will come. "Pre-season is difficult to gauge and you just have to go on performance. As the game went on we adjusted performance (and that) was good."

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