Newcastle United will back manager Alan Pardew with cash for four new signings this month.

The Evening Chronicle says United - who hope to tie up a deal for Montpellier star Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa today - are also looking to add another two squad players and a striker before the window slams shut at the end of the month.

Sources in Birmingham have also suggested that a £4m deal for England international Jack Butland could be pushed through and there is a possibility he will then be immediately loaned back to the second city club in order for him to continue his goalkeeping education in the Championship under Lee Clark.

Should Pardew get his way then he could still be welcoming FOUR new faces to go with French new boy Mathieu Debuchy, with the Toon boss understood to have made a fresh plea to his board for new faces after the loss against Reading.