Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has said he remains positive in his hunt for new recruits, despite struggling to secure several of his targets.
“It’s out of my hands now.” Pardew told the Shields Gazette. “We’ve done the selection process and put a number of players in front of Derek [Llambias, managing director] and Lee [Charnley, club secretary], and now it’s about getting the players who can take the club forward.”
This week had seen the Magpies stifled in their attempts to bring Lille’s French international right-back Mathieu Debuchy to Tyneside, with the player voicing his frustrations to L’Equipe.
Speaking on the matter, Pardew said: “It’s never easy at this level. But the one thing I do know is that we’re getting the right noises from the players. As has been reported, the players want to come.”
Pardew still remains hopeful over the deal, and claims the club are now able to attract their targets following last season’s fifth place finish in the Premier League.
“That’s because of the success we had last year – that bodes well,” he added. “It’s just about getting the deals right.”
As well as trying to add to his team, the former Southampton manager has also attempted to hold on to the nucleus of his squad from last season. That included Senegalese striker Demba Ba, who always insisted his commitment to the club, despite constant speculation linking him with a move away from the club.
Ba’s minimum fee release clause reportedly expired at the end of last month, meaning any interested club will now have to pay the market rate.
“I’ve always been relaxed about it,” said Pardew. “I think Demba’s said all he needed to say – he’s a Newcastle player, and he enjoys playing here.”
