Toon set for double defensive signings?

Newcastle are apparently on the verge of swelling the defensive ranks by two if you believe what the foreign press are saying. The big question is which two?

With Erik Pieters rumoured to be set to complete a move to Newcastle shortly and Darnel Sittu looking likely to join us from RC Lens it could be said these are the two defenders in question.

However rumours persist over a move for out of favour Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho with rumours in France claiming that Newcastle and Lyon and are locked in negotiations and are haggling over the fee. Newcastle are said to be €2 million short of what Lyon are requesting.

I do find it hard to believe that we'll end up with Cissokho although the player is said to be keen to join and is on the transfer list at Lyon. I'd like all three if truth be told but I think I'd be pushing the boundaries of reality a little there.

If I had a choice of Pieters and Cissokho I'd probably take Pieters purely because he can fill in at centre-back when needed. It makes sense to sign someone who can cover in a position in which we are desperately short and also fill in somewhere we could very easily be short should we suffer an injury or suspension to either Steven Taylor or Fabricio Coloccini.

This is also where Darnel Sittu will fit into the equation. He is currently on trial with us and has impressed thus far. In fact Joe Joyce believes that he is good enough to be on the fringes of the first-team already. Is he central defender number four?

Whatever happens I think I'm pretty much echoing the thoughts of many when I say that the defence needs looking at. We may have made a decent start in terms of clean sheets, but Ryan Taylor at left-back is not the long term option and we are woefully short of cover in the middle. Signing Erik Pieters and a young lad in the form of Sittu would go some way to solving that.

That just leaves us with a striker to sort out. According to The Chronicle we have representatives overseas this weekend who are trying to tie up a deal for a striker. Who said striker may be is up for debate although reports from l'Alsace in France are claiming that we've offered €8 million for Brest striker Nolan Roux (voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir). I'll wait and see on that one.

Things need to move quickly now. I think we can get away without replacing Joey Barton as we have about 60 midfielders, but it's up front and at the back where work still needs to be done. If it gets done then fair enough. It was left late but better late than never I guess. If it doesn't and Alan Pardew is forced to go through to January with what he has then the chaps upstairs deserve everything that will get directed towards them.

Five and a bit days to go.