But with the club’s Premier League status in jeopardy, owner Mike Ashley has sanctioned yet more spending, with Doumbia arriving on loan from Roma until the end of the season. Newcastle have the option to buy the 28-year-old striker at the end of the campaign.

The Ivory Coast international has scored eight goals while on loan at CSKA Moscow this season, one of them against Manchester United in the Champions League.

The Magpies want to sign another striker and a left-back before the 11pm deadline, but their number one target Berahino appears to beyond their grasp.

Berahino has started just eight Premier League games this season, but the Baggies insist they will not sell the 22-year-old forward as they believe he will help them in their own quest to avoid relegation.

Newcastle had a £21million bid rejected for the England Under-21 striker on Sunday and Albion have claimed they will reject any further offers for the player, who has attracted interest from Tottenham and Stoke.

The Potters look to have turned their attentions to Porto striker Giannelli Imbula, who will reportedly cost them in excess of £18million.

As news of Manchester City’s capture of Pep Guardiola was announced, fans in the red half of the city were experiencing yet more gloom after another quiet day at United.

Beleaguered United boss Louis van Gaal has been linked with a number of star players, including Benfica’s highly-rated attacking midfielder Renato Sanches, but sources at Old Trafford said it was likely to be a quiet day in terms of transfer activity.

Nick Powell could leave for Hull, but Andreas Pereira looks like being denied a loan move despite his lack of playing time under Van Gaal, which is understood to have left the Brazilian midfielder frustrated.

United are also understood to be against recalling Tyler Blackett from his loan spell at Celtic even though he has only started three league games for the club - the last of which was in October.

United were also linked with Mathieu Debuchy, but reports in France say the Gunners defender is bound for Bordeaux instead.

“Debuchy (leaving) is a possibility,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said at his press conference on Monday morning.

“At the moment it doesn’t look likely but it is still a possibility. Yes (it will be a loan) because it’s impossible to conclude a permanent move now.”

Across north London, Tottenham have allowed midfielder Alex Pritchard to join West Brom until the end of the season.

Spurs defender Federico Fazio has joined his old club Sevilla on loan while Serbia Under-21 midfielder Milos Veljkovic has moved to Werder Bremen on a permanent deal.

On Merseyside, there was no news regarding Liverpool’s pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk striker Alex Teixeira.

Everton, however, are close to completing the £13.5million signing of Lokomotiv Moscow striker Oumar Niasse, who has flown in for a medical.

The Toffees have loaned Aiden McGeady to Championship play-off hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday.

The biggest deal in the Football League could see Jordan Rhodes complete his on-off switch from Blackburn to Middlesbrough.

Boro pulled the plug on their pursuit of Rhodes at the weekend, but Press Association Sport understands manager Aitor Karanka has not given up hope of signing the striker before Monday night’s deadline.

Rhodes reported for training at Blackburn on Monday morning but left swiftly, sparking speculation that his move could be back on.

The Teessiders are also maintaining an interest in Fulham’s Ross McCormack despite being told by the London club that he is not for sale, and are prepared to spend big as they attempt to secure a return to the Barclays Premier League at the seventh attempt following relegation in 2009.