NEWCASTLE United have called time on moves to strengthen their defence or midfield ahead of Friday's transfer deadline.

And the club believe they have done enough to protect their blue-chip players from unwanted approaches.

With three days of the transfer window remaining, the only move still on the agenda at St James’ Park appears to be for a striker, and England international Andy Carroll is still right at the top of the Newcastle wish-list.

Unless Lille relent on their required fee, a fresh move for France right-back Mathieu Debuchy has been ruled out by the United hierarchy, and they have also decided not to follow up an initial enquiry for Ajax’s Gregory van der Wiel after being put off by the player’s wage demands.

That means United’s squad is likely to remain almost entirely unchanged for the rest of the calendar year – a development that puts added pressure on the squad’s fringe men to find an extra gear to support the club’s lofty aims for the season.

Newcastle may yet land one of their biggest targets but a move for £15m-rated Carroll depends on Liverpool blinking first in the game of brinkmanship between the two clubs.

For his part, the player seems to want to return and is likely to accept a wage cut to make it happen – but only if Brendan Rodgers bites the bullet and sanctions the sale.

Elsewhere, Newcastle anticipate a quiet week with no moves in the pipeline and no formal bids either for Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tioté or Fabricio Coloccini – the three players who have attracted the most interest.

United would want well in excess of £20million for all three and that has scared off Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham, who are now looking abroad for midfield reinforcements.