Alan Pardew Sets Deadline For New Striker Signing

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is refusing to rule out a move for Bafetimbi Gomis, Loic Remy or Darren Bent and expects a new signing to be made before the club's penultimate pre-season game against Rangers next week.

After a disappointing 16<sup>th place finish in the Premier League last season, The Toon have added just one player in the summer transfer window with Olivier Kemen joining from Metz.

Pardew has made a new striker his number one priority in the window but new director of football Joe Kinnear has struggled to satisfy the manager's desires as concerns grow that Newcastle may leave the window close to empty handed.

"I'm hoping something happens before Rangers. I think that's a realistic deadline for my team in the background to hopefully get something done," Pardew said.

"You can only be as confident as the feeling that you're getting, and the feeling I'm getting at the moment is we're pursuing and at the end of the day we'll get something.

"All I would say is that we're keeping our options open regarding strikers because we can only do a deal that's right. If a deal's right we'll do it, if a deal's not right we won't do it."

Confusion reigns over a deal for Gomis, who has emerged as Newcastle's primary striker target, with the club withdrawing from negotiations with Lyon regarding a fee despite claims the 27 year old had agreed a contract with the north east side.

Newcastle have fallen short of Lyon's £9m valuation of Gomis, who has one year to run on his current contract.

Queens Park Rangers striker Remy and Aston Villa's Bent are both in reserve should a move for Gomis fall through but both deals have complications.

Remy, who rejected a move to Newcastle in January in favour of a switch to Loftus Road, would only be available on a loan deal while Fulham are also keen on signing Bent since the England striker fell out of favour with Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert.