Nottingham Forest agree deal to sign Omari Hutchinson, medical today

Eddie Howe says Newcastle United are “still active” in the transfer window — but has preached a “quality over quantity” approach before the September 1 deadline.

Newcastle have signed three first-team players this summer in Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga with Jacob Ramsey set to follow them when he arrives from Aston Villa imminently.

The window closes in a fortnight with Howe keen for more reinforcements.

“We are still active in the window. We want to add one or two players,” Howe said ahead of the first game of the season against Villa on Saturday.

“It really is quality over quantity again. We don’t want too much more, we don’t need too much more. We are strong and have good depth in some areas of the squad.

“It’s a relentless season, we’re going to need everyone fit and available to contribute. An important last few weeks of the window. Certainly we need a bit more.”

Alexander Isak’s future has dominated the last few weeks with the striker keen to leave the club.

The Sweden international does not want to play for the club again, but Howe insists a striker was a priority signing even before the speculation over his top scorer began.

Asked if the Isak situation was holding up other business, Howe replied: “No, it’s not limited us in terms of what we’re trying to do. We’ve been looking to sign a striker all summer, we lost Callum Wilson at the end of last summer so a striker was a necessity for us throughout the window. That’s still not changed and we’re still in that position. For loads of different reasons we haven’t been able to sign one, but we still have time.”

“We’re looking to sign a striker and we’re looking to bring in the best we can. I’m reluctant to put anyone in the ‘world-class’ bracket, you can do that, but we want the best player who can fit us stylistically.

“It’s a very small field. The centre-forward market this year is the smallest it’s ever been perhaps this year. We’ve been active for a few and for whatever reason we haven’t got them, but we’re still looking.”