Pards ’n Mac eye same trio TRANSFER SHOWDOWN
NEWCASTLE are on a collision course with former manager Alan Pardew over their transfer targets.
Toon chief Steve McClaren has drawn up a hit list of players he feels can haul the Magpies out of the relegation zone.
They include QPR’s Charlie Austin, Loic Remy of Chelsea and Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey – the exact same players who top Crystal Palace’s shopping list this month.
McClaren has first to persuade Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley to sign his picks in preference to those who havebeentracked by chief scout Graham Carr.
But even if he wins that battle, the former England boss has another fight on his hands as ex-Toon boss Pardew is chasing the same targets.
Pardew wanted to sign Shelvey when he was at St James’ Park, only to be overruled.
But the Palace chief is confident he will be luckier this time, with the England international understood to favour a return to the capital after starting his career at Charlton under Pardew. Remy enjoyed a successful season on loan at Newcastle from QPR and the Geordies are one of the clubs who have been approached by the French striker’s representatives in recent days. Remy craves regular first-team foot- ball, which has been denied him since joining Chelsea, and would not be against a second spell on Tyneside.
The Blues, however, are reluctant to get rid of a player who has proved a useful stand-in when Diego Costa is missing.
But Newcastle are desperately short of firepower. They have lost their last three games by the same 1-0 scoreline and, taking out their 6-2 thrashing of Norwich, McClaren’s side have scored just 13 league goals.
Papiss Cisse is sidelined for several weeks with a groin injury, while big summer buy Aleksandar Mitrovic has found the net just three times this term.
McClaren was desperate to sign Austin in August but Newcastle refused to meet QPR’s £15m valuation. While Newcastle need goals to stave off relegation, Palace have their sights on Europe but do not have a prolific scorer.
Patrick Bamford has returned to Chelsea following a frustrating loan spell and Pardew wants to bring in at least one forward.
With Austin out of contract in June, Rangers are willing to cash in now, though the biggest stumbling block to any deal is the player himself.
Former QPR boss Neil Warnock predicts Austin will stay and let his contract run down. He said: “They probably should have sold him in the summer. I don’t think Charlie is in a rush to go anywhere as he becomes a free agent in the summer.”