Eddie Howe and Co are hoping for more deals done in the coming weeks
Eddie Howe wants more Newcastle United arrivals through the door before the September 1st transfer deadline but the message of 'quality over quantity' very much remains as a testing window nears its end.
Howe last week, humorously, described the summer of 2024 - one in which the Magpies were severely hamstrung due to PSR - as a 'piece of cake' in comparison to the current window.
Newcastle's struggles to land top talent have been well-documented, while the ongoing Alexander Isak saga has left a cloud hanging over the summer.
However, the north east outfit have slowly started to turn the tide, adding Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey in quick succession this week. Smart deals, wrapped up with minimal fuss just before the season starts.
Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have both arrived to offer competition in key areas, leaving only a few positions in desperate need of bolstering.
As such, Howe is not planning any major surgery on his current squad between now and the end of the trading period.
"We are still active in the window, we'd still like to add one or two players. But it really is now quality over quantity," he told reporters on Friday morning.
"I don't want to do too much. I don't think we need too much more because we're certainly stronger in certain areas with really good depth.
"We'll be, hopefully, resilient enough to get through a long, tough season. When you look at the fixture list we have beyond the first international break, it's relentless, so we need everybody to fit and available.
"So yeah, an important last few weeks the window for us, certainly."
The ongoing Isak situation muddies the waters somewhat with Newcastle still on the hunt for attacking talent.
Callum Wilson, who departed at the end of his contract in July, still needs to be replaced, with Brentford's Yoane Wissa likely to be the man who steps into the now-West Ham man's shoes at St James' Park.
Newcastle have been locked in talks with the Bees for a number of weeks, with the Congolese forward pushing to make the move up north.
Brentford have seen their squad somewhat decimated in recent months, meaning the club have pushed for a replacement through the door before allowing Wissa to depart.
Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara is now heading to the Gtech Stadium, which opens the door for Wissa, provided Newcastle can agree a fee for his signature.
Isak then holds the cards as to what happens next. Should the Swede opt to stay, it is likely Newcastle's business could be wrapped up for the summer.
However, many supporters are hoping for a scenario in which the wantway player departs, allowing the Magpies to reinvest the £120m-plus that should arrive for his signature.
Howe, discussing Isak's situation on Friday, explained that the current state of limbo being experienced hadn't affected Newcastle's search for a striker in recent weeks.
"No, it's not limited us in terms of what we're trying to do," he said.
"We've been looking to sign a striker all summer. We lost Callum Wilson at the end of last year, so a striker was a necessity for us all through the summer and that's not changed.
"We're still in that position, so for loads of different reasons we haven't been able to sign one but we still have time.