Newcastle forward thinking on transfer targets

Jan 8 2012 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE United hope to make a January breakthrough in the next 10 days – and they may yet land a striker this month.

That is the upbeat message after an encouraging week on Tyneside that began with the club’s key power brokers meeting at a plush five-star Quayside hotel to talk targets.

The Sunday Sun can reveal that boss Alan Pardew was in attendance at the summit along with the club’s managing director Derek Llambias, back in the North East after a short Christmas break. And it went well, with all of the club’s key men now singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to recruitment.

Although money is tight – a budget of around £8million has been mooted – the news from up high is that there IS additional cash there for an exceptional player if he becomes available at the right price.

And some of the stars put to Newcastle’s hierarchy by busy agents and representatives from cash-strapped clubs have changed their thinking in this window.

So much so that a deal for a domestic-based striker is now being actively talked about – a U-turn on the stated policy that only one defender will be added this month.

But Pardew has confirmed to the Sunday Sun that the club won’t be signing ANYONE over 26.

That means talk of a move for James Collins, which was doing the rounds once again in the Midlands this week, looks to be nothing more than agent chatter.

Instead, United are plotting moves for young up-and-coming players who may not command an immediate place in the team.

They have watched Sheffield United’s Harry Maguire and Brighton’s Lewis Dunk on several occasions.

“The player (coming in) will certainly be under 26,” Pardew confirmed to the Sunday Sun.

The Toon boss is staying tight-lipped in public but when pressed, he says he is not frantic about bringing someone in.

Indeed, any new signing will have to wait his chance – with Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini the men currently in the driving seat when it comes to the central defensive slots.

“I’m quite relaxed about it. We’ve got a good group of players and I’d like to bring in a player,” he said.