Head coach McClaren said: “We said at the beginning we have to be patient to make sure we get the right players.
“When the right players are available, we’ll get them, and we have done that.
“We’ve been fortunate with Wijnaldum that we got him early. Mitrovic will have ten days with us.
“Mbemba ... we’ll try to secure the visa to join us as well.
“Everybody and everything looks great on paper, but we’re signing good players.
“We hope they can settle in quickly and adapt to the Premier League.
“The sooner we get them in, the better.”
United issued a statement clarifying the status of Mbemba. While the statement was diplomatic in its tone, Newcastle are privately understood to be unhappy with the delay in convening a panel to consider its application for a GBE.