Ciaran Kelly, Newcastle United reporter

Newcastle United are now on the verge of making as many first-team signings in the space of a week as they did in the opening couple of months of the window.

That is a statement worth repeating.

The Alexander Isak saga continues to rumble on, but the progress Newcastle have made in recent days serves as a huge boost for Eddie Howe following such a frustrating summer of knockbacks.

Newcastle completed a move for Malick Thiaw earlier this week and the club are now closing in on Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey, like Thiaw, is a player Newcastle have admired for some time and you sense that the midfielder has all the ingredients – the age, the athleticism and the desire – to go to another level at St James’ Park.

Ramsey will give Newcastle some added depth in the middle of the park following Sean Longstaff’s departure and, crucially, the 24-year-old can plug in seamlessly, having already played in both the Premier League and, of course, the Champions League.