NEWCASTLE UNITED will formally confirm Andros Townsend as their third January signing later today – and remain determined to round off their transfer-window spending with the recruitment of a proven striker.

Townsend travelled to the North-East yesterday after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy finally accepted Newcastle’s £12m offer for the England international, with further clauses that could eventually see the final price rise by around £2m.

The 24-year-old’s arrival takes Newcastle’s January spending beyond the £28m mark, but that sum is set to increase further ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline as the Magpies’ recruitment team pursue the attacking signing that has the greatest potential to transform the club’s survival prospects.

Saido Berahino remains their number one target, and just as Levy was eventually persuaded to shift his bargaining stance over Townsend, so there is a strong expectation that West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace will be increasingly willing to negotiate as next week’s deadline nears.

As things stand, Peace is still demanding £30m for Berahino, even though the striker has been pushed to the fringe of West Brom’s first-team squad and has not started a Premier League game since the end of October.

The Baggies chief is adamant he will not be forced into selling his club’s leading asset for a reduced fee, but with Tony Pulis seemingly having written off any prospect of Berahino remaining beyond the end of the transfer window, the Newcastle hierarchy continue to believe there will be an opportunity to strike a deal that suits them.

The Magpies have consistently valued Berahino at around £18m, but their discussions over Townsend revealed a willingness to be flexible about the amount of money that was paid up front, and there could yet be the potential for a compromise agreement with West Brom even though the two clubs’ valuations are currently a long away apart.

Steve McClaren has been pushing for Berahino’s capture ever since he arrived at St James’ Park, and the England Under-21 international remains Newcastle’s preferred option by a considerable distance.

However, they are also working on potential alternatives, with a loan move for Loic Remy currently topping the list of back-up options.

Chelsea are close to completing the loan capture of Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato, and once the Brazilian’s move to Stamford Bridge is confirmed, Remy will receive the green light to leave the reigning champions.

Leicester City are expected to make a move for the Frenchman – Crystal Palace had also been interested before they signed Emmanuel Adebayor on a free transfer yesterday - but Newcastle would be confident of beating off all competition if they opted to turn their back on Berahino and pursue Remy.

Remy scored 14 Premier League goals during his one season with Newcastle before making an £8.5m move to Chelsea, and is known to have enjoyed his time in the North-East.

He would be a guaranteed starter for Newcastle in the final four months of the season, and while he would not be offered the prospect of a permanent summer deal given that he turned 29 earlier this month, the prospect of an extended run in the Magpies’ first team could enhance his chances of being involved in this summer’s European Championships in France.

Newcastle have also been monitoring Barcelona youngster Sandro Ramirez and Espanyol’s Felipe Caceido as possible alternatives to Berahino.

Their month-long pursuit of Townsend finally came to fruition yesterday morning when Levy relented and agreed to the winger’s departure.

While the potential for a swap deal involving Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama was floated earlier this week, it was never a realistic possibility, and with Townsend having been completely frozen out of the first-team picture at White Hart Lane, the Spurs hierarchy eventually decided that it was time to accept Newcastle’s offer.

Townsend has not made a single Premier League start this season, but he has been keeping his fitness levels up with a string of appearances for Tottenham’s development side and should be ready to make his Newcastle debut when his new employers return to action at Everton on February 3.

“As soon as I knew of Newcastle’s interest, they were the only club I wanted to join,” said Townsend. “Two of the biggest positions you can play in football are centre-forward or winger and I’ve got the chance to play one of those – I could never turn that down. I can’t wait to play my first game at St James’ Park – I am excited.”

Townsend’s arrival is expected to pave the way for Florian Thauvin to re-join his former club, Marseille, on a season-long loan.

Thauvin arrived in a much-trumpeted £12m summer move, but has proved a major disappointment and has not started a Premier League game since September 19.