FULHAM are hoping to complete the £20m capture of Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the next 48 hours, with Rafael Benitez hoping the Serb’s departure will enable him to complete an attacking acquisition of his own.

Mitrovic is due to complete a post-World Cup break next week, and is keen to push through his move to Craven Cottage ahead of his proposed return date.

Fulham officials have agreed the framework of a £20m deal with Newcastle, and are aware of Mitrovic’s wage demands following his loan spell last season.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has made Mitrovic his number one attacking target all summer, with the 23-year-old having scored 12 goals in 17 Championship matches to help the Cottagers win promotion last season.

Benitez is adamant he does not see Mitrovic having a future at St James’ Park, and has instructed Lee Charnley to cash in.

The Magpies boss is hoping Mitrovic’s exit will ensure he is able to recruit a new striker ahead of his squad’s departure for a two-game tour of Portugal next week.

Salomon Rondon is the likeliest arrival, despite Newcastle’s reluctance to trigger the £16.5m relegation release clause in his contract.

Newcastle have offered West Brom £4m in order to take Rondon on a season-long loan, but their approach was immediately rejected by Baggies officials.

With Rondon only having one more year on his contract at the Hawthorns, West Brom want to cash in now, and Newcastle have been told they will have to come up with an acceptable offer for a permanent transfer.

It remains to be seen whether they are willing to go to £16.5m, but the sale of Mikel Merino means they are currently in profit this summer.

“We hope to have somebody (ahead of the trip to Portugal), and we will continue working and trying to do the best for the squad,” said Benitez, who has also been linked with a loan move for Everton midfielder Nikola Vlasic.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has made two contract offers to Benitez, only for the Magpies manager to refuse to sign either until he receives some guarantees over player recruitment and future investment.

Benitez was offered a five-year contract towards the end of last season, but demanded cast-iron assurances over transfer spending and an overhaul of the academy and Under-23 set-up.

When his representatives were unable to reach an agreement, the Newcastle hierarchy returned with the offer of a one-year extension at around the same time Benitez was discussing a short-term deal to manage Spain at the World Cup.

That was also shelved, with Benitez feeling there was no point agreeing a short-term fix to a long-term problem.