—- Nick Woltemade bears a double responsibility at Newcastle. One facet of the club record £65m transfer is beyond his control, another is not. The first concerns how his arrival can unlock a complicated transfer wrangle, the second centres on his ability to match fans’ high expectations of their centre-forward.

Woltemade flew home for international duty leaving Newcastle to resolve the Alex Isak issue before this evening’s deadline. Liverpool are expected to increase their offer to £120m plus add-ons. This is £30m short of Newcastle’s valuation but the cash would facilitate their high-speed purchase of another striker.

Liverpool, if their bid is accepted, will know how much more they could offer Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi. The FA Cup-holders’ captain is out of contract next summer but Palace will expect other bidders to rival Liverpool’s initial £35m offer.

Woltemade sat in the directors’ box for Newcastle’s goalless draw at Leeds to witness for himself how badly their attack needs a cutting edge. This is his challenge. Newcastle fans have a long passion for goalscoring centre-forwards from Jackie Milburn in the 1950s to Malcolm Macdonald in the 1970s and Alan Shearer in the 1990s. These are big boots to fill.

Two other significant deals which kicked off the pre-deadline flurry saw Chelsea spend £40m on Manchester United’s disaffected Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho and Tottenham pay RB Leipzig £52m for Chelsea target Xavi Simons.

Garnacho, 21, fell out with United after manager Ruben Amorim used him only as a late substitute in last season’s Europa League Final defeat by Tottenham. The FIFA Club World Cup holders see him as replacement for Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk who is serving a provisional suspension after failing a dope test.

Simons is a welcome signing by Tottenham on their return to the Champions League. Injured playmaker James Maddison will miss most of the season with a knee injury and their lack of creativity was painfully evident in the disappointing home defeat by Bournemouth.

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