Bafetimbi Gomis
Gomis says Newcastle changed the terms of their contract offer.

Newcastle United's summer transfer window dealings have suffered further embarrassment after Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis revealed how the Toon's decision to call for an adjustment to the Frenchman's wage demands saw a move to St James' Park fall through.

The Magpies signed just two players during the window in French duo Oliver Kemen from Metz and Loic Remy on loan from Queens Park Rangers despite new director of football Joe Kinnear and manager Alan Pardew promising a succession of new additions.

The club had appeared on the brink of signing a third player in the form of French international Gomis from Lyon after agreeing a fee for 28 year old earlier this summer.

However, the deal collapsed in the twilight of the window after Newcastle changed their contract offer to Gomis despite having already had their original offer accepted.

"I had a talk with Newcastle's coach and we found an agreement," Gomis told TV show Canal Football Club.

"Then, there were talks with Lyon, there was a first offer - which was refused and then a second one, which was accepted.

"Newcastle then came back to me and asked me to make an effort on wages - but I never asked anything as it was my club which wanted to transfer me, so the effort had to be made by Newcastle or Lyon."

The decision to lower the offer of Gomis' wages leaves Newcastle with limited attacking resources for the first half of a season in which they look to better last term's 16<sup>th place finish in the Premier League.

The news is the latest humiliating episode in a summer to forget for Newcastle during which the club's management structure was altered when Kinnear was appointed by owner Mike Ashley in June to oversee the club's transfer dealings, leading to the departure of former managing director Derek Llambias.

The move worked to disrupt the work done by chief scout Graham Carr and Pardew, who had specifically targeted the French market with much success in recent windows while Kinnear conducted a series of interviews which worked to embarass the club further.

Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini were both retained during the summer but the pair's cemented future has been overshadowed by continued discontent in the north east.