Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has predicted that Premier League clubs will be busier in the final fortnight of the transfer window as Newcastle United look to make a breakthrough.
Newcastle are still pushing to bring in at least another forward before the window shuts on September 1. Newcastle have had two bids turned down for Watford star Joao Pedro, but the Magpies have not given up on signing the Brazilian.
Newcastle will also dip into the loan market for the right player and Eddie Howe's side have already registered their interest in Christian Pulisic, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea. Although Chelsea will be among those sides looking to make the most of the new five subs rule, the Blues will let some fringe players go out on loan if they manage to get the signings they want before deadline day.
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It has been seven weeks since Newcastle made their last signing, in Sven Botman, but the hierarchy are remaining calm at a time when Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal with Wolves to sign midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White for a fee that could rise to a whopping £44.5m.
It is worth bearing in mind that Newcastle signed Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett in the final week of the mid-season window earlier this year and Eddie Howe's side are certainly not alone in still having to do business late on. Southampton will be among those other clubs looking to make further additions in the final 13 days of the window.
"I'm sure that in the next two weeks you can feel now that the transfer market gets more busy," Hasenhuttl told reporters. "A lot of teams have struggled with a few injuries.
"After the first games are played, you see what is working and where you miss players so it's normal that in the time of the year the transfer market is getting busy. For us, it's the same. We have to keep our eyes open. We hope that we do the right things in the right moments."
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