Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes club owner Mike Ashley will hand him a substantial transfer war-chest in the summer amid uncertainty regarding the long-term futures of Hatem Ben Arfa and Loic Remy.
Pardew, who attended the Magpies lopsided 4-0 away defeat to Southampton on Saturday after serving a three-match stadium ban, is expected to bring in a number of new players in the next transfer window.
Strike duo Loic Remy and Luuk de Jong are on loan at St James’ Park from Queens Park Rangers and Borussia Mönchengladbach, respectively, while French wingers Hatem Ben Arfa and Sylvain Marveaux are also expected to seek pastures new.
A permanent deal for Remy seems rather unlikely, with the France international keen to join Arsenal, according to a source close to the situation.
“If Arsenal want him that’s where he will go,” the anonymous source told the Sunday People, per ESPN UK. “Where else would a big fan of Thierry Henry want to go?”
Although a permanent move for De Jong is still a possibility, the former FC Twente star has failed to find the back of the net in 550 minutes of action in the English Premier League.
The Holland international has been out of sorts since joining Glabach from Twente for €15 million in July 2012, with his last goal (at the club level) coming on 6 April 2013 against 10-man SpVgg Greuther Fürth, who were relegated last season.
Simply put, Pardew needs to add attacking reinforcements and he knows it.
Pardew said: “Mike is very much aware. The one thing he likes in his teams is them to be on the front foot and trying to win the game.
“I don’t think he likes tactics where teams set out to defend deep and look to nick something, it’s not the way he is. It’s not his style and it’s certainly not my style.
“We have talked about that, so that bodes well. He knows we need some attacking options.”
Newcastle (14-4-14), currently in ninth-place in the league table, are scheduled to host Manchester United at St James’ Park next Saturday.
Arsenal ‘sign’ Swiss striker Josip Drmic
Arsenal F.C. have completed the signing of highly-rated striker Josip Drmic from Bundesliga outfit FC Nuremberg, according to Lothar Matthaus (per Jan Aage Fjortoft).
Fjortoft took to Twitter to reveal the news on Saturday.
The former Middlesbrough forward tweeted: “My #sky colleague Lothar Matthäus just said on Sky: -Drmic’s wife has been looking for an appartment in London. Drmic will be Arsenal-player.
“Josip Drmic is the Swiss-striker at Nurnberg. 15 goals so far. 47% of all Nürnberg goals. Matthäus: – Will be Arsenal-player.”
Drmic, 21, is expected to be an important player for Switzerland at this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side, ranked No. 7 in the world, are backed by the bookmakers at 5/4 to defeat Ecuador in their Group E opener.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
