Wide man is transfer priority for Alan Pardew

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Wide man is transfer priority for Alan Pardew

 

 

 

ALAN PARDEW is braced for a frantic finale in the January transfer window with Newcastle United.

 

The Toon boss offloaded Wayne Routledge to Queens Park Rangers yesterday in a deal that could become permanent at the end of the season should the Rs clinch promotion back to the Premier League.

 

The Chronicle understands that Pardew is looking to make the addition of a winger his priority in the remaining nine days of the window.

 

Pardew is keen to make the most of his big striker Andy Carroll and target man Shola Ameobi in the second half of the season.

 

United’s frontline were often starved of good service in the first half of the season, even though Carroll has netted an impressive 11 goals and Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi also contributed 17 goals between them.

 

However, despite reports in Belgium claiming that the Magpies are circling for a swoop for Anderlecht winger Jonathan Legear, United sources have played down such talk.

 

At just 23, Legear fits into United’s blueprint of signing younger stars, and chief scout Graham Carr has been a frequent visitor to Belgium since joining Newcastle’s scouting network.

 

Pardew continues to keep his cards close to his chest but can now also rely on the input of much-travelled John Carver as his assistant, with the Geordie’s knowledge of the lower divisions also likely to be brought to the table in the next week or so.

 

Pardew told the Chronicle: “Between now and the end of the window, anything can change.

 

“There will be movement every hour and every day between now and then.”

 

Routledge’s move to United hasn’t really worked out for the Londoner and, after week-long talks with the Rs, a loan move to Loftus Road was finally agreed last night.

 

I understand that Pardew has been impressed by QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt, but Rs gaffer Neil Warnock appears to be hell-bent on keeping the Morocco international until the end of the season.

 

The classy former Lens and Tottenham Hotspur player has scored 12 goals in the Championship and takes an excellent penalty.

 

So it is no surprise that Warnock is digging his heels in over the 21-year-old, and may feel he can hold on to him if the table-topping Londoners achieve promotion to the top flight.