NEWCASTLE UNITED eventually gave up on making Saido Berahino the club’s most expensive signing when West Bromwich Albion hiked their price beyond the £25m mark on deadline day.

The Magpies – who completed the loan signing of Seydou Doumbia from Roma - were more than happy to break the transfer record at St James’ Park for the England Under-21 international and hoped the Baggies would do business before the 11pm deadline.

But Newcastle decided to admit defeat when West Brom increased their valuation of Berahino beyond £25m, which had been the top price Mike Ashley was prepared to pay.

Steve McClaren, the head coach, had hoped for a breakthrough, but it never arrived as West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace stood firm and continued to resist the offers from Tyneside.

Peace felt West Brom would struggle to replace him before the transfer window closed and that the player’s value will still hold when the summer comes around.

Berahino, who has had the situation explained to him by manager Tony Pulis, had been the subject of a number of offers from Newcastle and the last official bid was for £21.2m.

However, Newcastle did float the idea of paying more than that in straight cash but West Brom indicated they would want more than £25m.

McClaren remains satisfied with Newcastle’s business during January, which saw Doumbia yesterday follow the arrivals of Jonjo Shelvey, Henri Saivet and Andros Townsend at a combined cost of just under £30m.

Doumbia has moved on loan from Roma, subject to receiving the appropriate visa, and he has already set his sights on scoring the goals to keep Newcastle in the Premier League – and to stay in the North-East.

And with an impressive goalscoring record for CSKA Moscow - during five successful years in Russia which included two league titles, two Russian Cups and two Russian Super Cups – that saw him score 16 goals in just 23 Champions League appearances, he wants to recapture that form for Newcastle.

Doumbia said: “It's a loan with an option to buy afterwards. I think the most important thing is to concentrate on settling in, getting into the team and scoring goals – and why not after that continue with the adventure?

“I think it's important that I get down to training, that's the first thing on my agenda. It's really essential to get settled into the squad, to get to the players, and go step by step and see how things go.

“It's important to settle in quickly and make sure I'm well prepared. The last three weeks I've been preparing really well. It's been important that I'm ready for that and I think I'll be able to adapt really fast and help the team get the goals they need.”

McClaren is delighted to have landed the Ivory Coast international, believing he can provide the goal threat along with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez to get Newcastle out of trouble.

McClaren said: "It is no secret that we have been looking to add to our options in the striking area. We have been searching for a forward and were delighted when the opportunity arose to take Seydou on loan.

"He is a natural goalscorer, someone who has scored goals in the Champions League and has played at the highest level. We believe he can make a mark in this team."

Doumbia, who moved to Roma 12 months ago but failed to impress so was loaned back to CSKA, is excited by the new challenge and is desperate to make sure the move to the Premier League is a success story.

The 28-year-old said: “It's always been a dream of course to one day come and play in England, in the Premier League. Now that dream has come true so I'm absolutely delighted.

“It’s special because this is the birthplace of football quite simply. You watch all of the Premier League games on the TV and it was always something which I thought was magnificent to watch. Each weekend I would turn on and watch these games and now I can actually be here and take part in it.

“The manager’s given me a fantastic welcome, so I thank him for that. He's also told me what he expects of me – he expects me to get forward, to help the team, to score goals. I'm fully aware of what he wants from me, and I'll do everything I can meet those expectations.”

Newcastle made contact with Liverpool to discuss re-signing Jose Enrique yesterday but could not agree terms, but they did confirm the news that Perez had signed a new long-term contract.

Tottenham and Manchester United were both interested in the former Tenerife man who has impressed since heading for Tyneside in June 2014, but he has committed his future to the club until 2021.

Perez said: "It's a special day for me, a big day for me. The truth is I'm really happy here, so it's a good thing for me - and I hope it's the same for the Geordie family. Newcastle gave me everything and I'm really pleased to sign this new contract."