NEWCASTLE UNITED are close to completing a loan deal for Seydou Doumbia, with the Ivory Coast international having flown into the North-East to complete a medical earlier today.

However, while Magpies officials have made a final effort to sign Saido Berahino, there is a growing acceptance that the West Brom striker is unlikely to move to St James' Park before the transfer window closes tomorrow evening.

Newcastle officials held discussions regarding Roma forward Doumbia and Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis yesterday, and have opted to move for the former as they look to secure an alternative to Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Doumbia, a 28-year-old striker who spent the first half of the season on loan at CSKA Moscow, will join Newcastle on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

The Ivorian made a €14m move from CSKA Moscow to Roma in January 2015, but failed to make an impact at the Stadio Olimpico and was loaned back to the Russian capital last summer.

He performed impressively for CSKA, scoring in a Champions League game against Manchester United, but returned to Roma after his loan agreement was cancelled.

He was offered the chance to join Marseille, Fenerbahce and Chinese side Shenhua Shanghai this month, but opted to move to Newcastle once the extent of the Magpies' interest became clear.

Having arrived on Tyneside this morning, he is currently undergoing a medical, and his transfer should be confirmed either later today or in the morning.

He is unlikely to be joined by Berahino, even though Newcastle's recruitment team have made a final attempt to prise the England Under-21 international from West Brom.

Despite Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace attempting to draw Newcastle into a bidding war for Berahino, the Magpies have not increased the £18m offer that has effectively been on the table since the start of the month.

Berahino scored both of West Brom's goals in yesterday's 2-2 draw with Peterborough in the FA Cup fourth round, and while Tottenham could yet make a last-gasp attempt to sign the England Under-21 international, having failed to land him last summer, it increasingly looks as though the transfer window will end with the unsettled striker still at the Hawthorns.

Speaking after yesterday's game, West Brom boss Tony Pulis said: "The chairman will make the decision on the financial matters, and that's really what it boils down to.

"Football wise, everybody would want to keep Saido here. We need to get him fit. He's not fit. Even today, although he scored two great goals, he's not as fit as he should be, and he knows that."

Newcastle also discussed Gomis' position with the hierarchy at Swansea City, and were given a firm indication that the Swans would be willing to consider a loan deal, with a view for a permanent transfer.

The Magpies were willing to agree to a loan, but have always been reluctant to agree to a permanent move for a player who has already turned 30.

Newcastle tried to sign Gomis from Lyon two years ago, only for a potential deal to collapse because of the striker's wage demands.

With two days of the transfer window remaining, Newcastle are also attempting to secure some cover at left-back.

However, their attempts to sign Atletico Madrid's Guilherme Siqueira look doomed to failure, with the defender set to join Valencia instead.

That could lead to Newcastle rekindling their interest in Valencia's Lucas Orban.

Florian Thauvin's departure should be confirmed later today, with the Frenchman having flown to France to tie up a loan return to Marseille.