NEWCASTLE UNITED remain confident of agreeing a deal for Swedish full-back Emil Krafth, but Isaac Hayden has raised fresh questions about his future ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The Magpies completed their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 win over French side St Etienne on Saturday, but before they kick off the new Premier League campaign with a home game against Arsenal, they will spend the next four days completing their summer transfer business.

Having already signed Joelinton, Jetro Willems and Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle’s recruitment team should be able to avoid the kind of last-minute panic that looked likely when Steve Bruce was confirmed as Rafael Benitez’s successor last month.

However, further incomings and outgoings are anticipated before the transfer window closes at 5pm on Thursday, with a new right-back at the top of Bruce’s list of priorities.

The Magpies manager can call on Javier Manquillo and the injured DeAndre Yedlin to fill the right wing-back role, but neither has been completely convincing during their Newcastle career and an alternative option is being sought.

Bruce has been linked with veteran Ahmed Elmohamady, but while the North-Easterner has worked with the Egyptian at Sunderland, Hull City and Aston Villa, another tie-up is unlikely. Elmohamady will turn 32 in September, and while he is available on a cut-price deal from Villa, he does not fall within the parameters of Mike Ashley’s preferred recruitment model.

Krafth would be a much neater fit, and while Amiens rejected Newcastle’s initial £4.5m offer for the 25-year-old Sweden international last week, a renewed approach is anticipated. Sources in France claim Amiens would be willing sellers if Newcastle were to offer around €7m, and have suggested the Ligue 1 side would be happy to accept a staggered deal that saw a portion of the price dependent on a number of clauses.

Krafth spent four years playing in Italy with Bologna prior to joining Amiens, and is regarded as a reliable performer who should be capable of handling a move to the Premier League.

There is a chance Newcastle could also move for another attacker before the window swings shut, although a late move for a forward or attacking midfielder would almost certainly be dependent on players leaving.

Newcastle have been unable to offload a number of their fringe performers, and if the likes of Henri Saivet, Jack Colback and Jacob Murphy remain on their books beyond Thursday’s deadline, the scope for bringing in another recruit will be limited.

The Magpies also have the option of signing Andy Carroll outside the window if the free agent is able to prove his fitness following ankle surgery. Carroll, who made his name with Newcastle before joining Liverpool in a £35m deal, could join in September or October after his contract with West Ham expired in June.

“The manager’s job is always to knock on the door,” said Bruce, in the wake of Saturday’s friendly win at St James’ Park. “If you’re happy, it’s not right. I’m delighted with what we’ve done, so (anything extra) will be a bonus. There’s things bubbling away a little bit, but we’ll see.”

Newcastle could still opt to sell players, although senior sources continue to insist there is no chance of Sean Longstaff being allowed to join Manchester United, even if the Old Trafford club follow up their initial interest with a £30m bid.

Up until this weekend, Hayden was also thought to be off limits, with Bruce having spoken of his desire to offer the midfielder a new contract.

Hayden’s family situation has settled down somewhat in the last few months, but he has nevertheless hinted at the possibility of a move in the final few days of the window.

“I couldn’t answer that question (if he was definitely staying at Newcastle) right now,” said Hayden. “The deadline is Thursday – in football, anything can happen. I am not going to stand here and say, ‘This is me 100 per cent staying here’.”

At this stage, a move remains unlikely, and the same is true when it comes to Dwight Gayle. The striker, who missed Saturday’s game through injury, has been linked with Leeds United as a potential replacement for Kemar Roofe, but Bruce does not want to lose him this month.

“I want to keep him,” said the Newcastle boss. “As I keep saying, you’re only as good as your strikers and once we go in to bat on Thursday, we go in to bat.

“In that area, in particular, he is a part of my plans, although I have not seen him yet and I have been here three weeks.

“He has got a calf (injury), which is not responding. He is disappointed. He is a player I tried to sign on three occasions, but I could never afford him. He would be great to have around. We thought he’d be okay after China, but he has gone backwards unfortunately.”

Saturday’s final friendly provided a few hints as to how Newcastle are likely to line up when Arsenal travel to Tyneside on Sunday, with Bruce set to stick with the three centre-half system favoured by Benitez last season.

Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez played alongside Jamaal Lascelles at the weekend, and with Florian Lejeune still unavailable, the trio are expected to get the nod against the Gunners.

Rolando Aarons has featured in a number of pre-season matches, but could be vulnerable once Saint-Maximin gets up to speed, while Sean Longstaff appears to have cemented a midfield position.

His brother, Matty, scored his first senior goal on Saturday, and the youngster is set to be part of the senior set-up this season. In attack, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron are beginning a form an effective partnership with the emphasis very much on pace.

Joelinton and Hayden both squandered decent early chances as Newcastle dominated the opening stages against a St Etienne side who had lined up against Middlesbrough six days earlier, but having opened his Magpies account at Hibernian last Tuesday, the former found the net again midway through the first half.

Schar’s through ball sent Joelinton galloping into the area, and the Brazilian produced a neat finish to prod home.

Jonjo Shelvey and Almiron both hit the crossbar, before Newcastle doubled their lead in the second half. Matty Longstaff had only just come off the bench when he picked up the ball on the left and crashed home a fine finish from 20 yards.

Former Newcastle defender Mathieu Debuchy pulled a goal back for St Etienne late on, but Bruce was satisfied with his side’s work out.

“The second half, I enjoyed,” he said. “First half was a typical pre-season friendly where everyone was asleep, but second half we played with energy and intensity. We could have been worthy winners by a few more. Overall, I was very, very pleased.”

Newcastle: Dubravka; Schar (Dummett 77), Lascelles (Clark 77), Fernandez; Manquillo (Murphy 80), Hayden (M Longstaff 72), Shelvey (Ki 72), S Longstaff, Aarons (Willems 59); Almiron (Saint-Maximin 59), Joelinton (Muto 58).