Newcastle United are on the verge of completing a deal worth as much as £55m to sign Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo before the transfer window closes.
The Belgian attacker's move to St James' Park appears to be entering its final stages, with the north-east club eager to add another attacking option in the closing days of the window. Newcastle have already brought in seven new faces this summer, but the club's hierarchy has continued to push for reinforcements up front.
Signs that Fernandez-Pardo's departure from Lille was imminent emerged last week when the 21-year-old was omitted from the squad for the French side's 2-2 draw with Paris St-Germain. He was subsequently instructed to train away from the first team while his future was sorted out ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
Should the transfer go through, it could also have knock-on effects elsewhere in Newcastle's squad. The arrival of Fernandez-Pardo may open the door for striker Nick Woltemade to depart on loan, with Juventus among the clubs said to be interested in the German forward.
Fernandez-Pardo has long been on Newcastle's radar, with interest in the player reportedly tracing back to the tenure of former head coach Eddie Howe. His versatility across the front line, combined with his age, made him a natural fit for the profile of player the Magpies have been targeting in recent recruitment drives.
Statistically, Fernandez-Pardo stood out among Europe's top young talents last season. Among players aged 21 and under across the continent's five major leagues, he ranked second for big chances created with 21, fifth for touches in the opposition box with 184, and fifth for shots on target with 30. He also placed seventh in the combined goals and assists category, contributing 13 in total.
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle addressed the club's transfer plans following Saturday's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, indicating that any incoming deals would be handled with careful consideration rather than urgency.
"We know our needs," Jaissle said. "Ross [Wilson, the sporting director] is doing an amazing job."
He added: "We have a couple of days left where we will not panic and do something crazy we do not believe is the right decision. That's the most important thing, and on the management and leadership level that we're all aligned and all speaking the same language."
The comments suggest that while Newcastle are keen to strengthen their attacking options before the window shuts, the club's recruitment team is determined to ensure any late business fits their broader strategic vision rather than rushing into a deal purely to beat the deadline.
Fernandez-Pardo's potential arrival would mark the eighth signing of the summer for Newcastle, underlining the scale of the squad overhaul undertaken by the club this transfer window. With his ability to operate across multiple attacking positions, he could provide Jaissle with added flexibility as the season progresses.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on St James' Park to see whether the deal for Fernandez-Pardo is finalised, and what that might mean for the futures of other players within Newcastle's forward line, including Woltemade.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.