Newcastle United have confirmed that they had a club-record offer for a centre-forward turned down in January.

The Magpies managed to sign midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet while also landing Seydou Doumbia on loan in the winter transfer window.

But there has been some discontent among the Toon faithful that the club failed to sign a quality striker and a defender.

In a Fans' Forum meeting, the club addressed the transfer dealings of last month, revealing that they indeed did make a big-money move presumably for West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino who is reported to have been the subject of a £21million bid from the Magpies.

"The club emphasised it had stretched its transfer parameters in January, but that a number of reasons were behind players not being available at that particular time," read part of the minutes from the meeting.

"As well as defensive targets, the club also noted it had lodged a club-record bid for a centre-forward, which was rejected.

"Despite that, the club felt it had a very positive transfer window given the calibre of players it was able to attract and the clubs those players had dismissed in order to come to Newcastle United.

"The club accepted it sees the same weaknesses that fans do, but that not every change has been possible despite significant progress in the last two windows."