STEVE McCLAREN is looking at strengthening Newcastle United’s defence and is close to striking a deal for Atletico Madrid's Brazilian full-back Guilherme Siqueira.

Newcastle have been in touch with a number of clubs in Europe to discuss ways of adding to McClaren's backline options and he had also considered Valencia’s versatile full-back Lucas Orban.

And the Magpies’ boss is still urging managing director Lee Charnley to bring in the extra striker that he has been crying out for since the transfer window opened at the turn of 2016.

Newcastle are thought to have agreed a loan arrangement with Atletico which will see Siqueira move to St James' Park over the weekend, but hopes are not so high that something can be done on the forward front.

McClaren is desperate for Newcastle to keep trying, having been excited by the arrivals of Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Henri Saivet already this month.

The head coach would like an agreement with West Brom for top attacking target Saido Berahino, although with the Baggies still demanding around the £30m mark time is running out for a deal to be done.

Berahino ticks the boxes in the boardroom as well as on the playing side of things because at the age of 22, and an England Under-21 international, there is plenty of potential for his value to increase – even if Newcastle could get him for a club record £18-20m fee.

That is also the case with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, 24, but the Frenchman has expressed a reluctance to move to Tyneside.

Newcastle are under the impression that they could persuade Swansea to do business for an old target, Bafetimbi Gomis, before Monday night, while Chelsea’s Loic Remy is still a strong option provided Alexandre Pato’s stuttering loan switch from Corinthians to Stamford Bridge gets the go-ahead.

Neither Gomis, 30, nor Remy, 29, fit into the age bracket which Newcastle would normally target, so if McClaren was to persuade the Newcastle board to get them in then it would only be for a loan until the end of the season.

And it has emerged that Newcastle have been in touch with Roma to ask if Ivory Coast international Seydou Doumbia is available on loan after a move to Fenerbahce broke down.

If there has still been no further progress in the move for Berahino within the next 24 hours then McClaren is likely to agree to a loan signing.

Despite the additions McClaren has made known a new defender and striker were two of the key areas of the squad to add to during January.

The move for Siqueira, 29, has come as a surprise. He joined the Madrid club in the summer of 2014 after leaving Granada. He has played seven times this season.

Newcastle assistant Ian Cathro recommended Argentina international Orban from former club Valencia, while he has also given a report on the Atletico man.

The need for a new defender was heightened further by this week’s departure of Mike Williamson to Wolves for £250,000. Williamson made 170 appearances in six years at St James’ Park and he had a brief spell at Molineux last year.

The 32-year-old, who has signed an 18-month contract at Wolves, said: “When I left after the loan spell I spoke to the gaffer and he expressed the desire to make it permanent and I said that the feeling was mutual.

“I had a fantastic time here and I'm just glad it has been sorted out and I get back to playing. It has been about getting fit as I've been injured and it can be difficult sorting out details when you are not playing and showing people what you can do.

“I thoroughly enjoyed playing here and we had some good results. We just maybe needed to build on that and turn a few of the draws into wins.”

Newcastle’s young defender Lubomir Satka, meanwhile, has joined York City on a one-month loan. The 20-year-old centre-back will remain at Bootham Crescent until February 29, joining Magpies’ team-mate Kyle Cameron at the League Two club.