Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted that his recent track record in the transfer market has hindered his side’s preparations for the forthcoming season, as they continue to chase Lille full-back Mathieu Debuchy.
The Magpies have managed to acquire the likes of Cheick Tiote for £3.5million and Yohan Cabaye for just £4.8m in recent seasons but, despite a series of enquiries this summer, the club are yet to make a significant addition to Sports Direct Arena this season.
However, reports suggest that the club are close to finalising a move for the 26-year-old France international defender and, when asked by reporters whether Newcastle have become a victim of their own success, Pardew replied, “Possibly, but the market dictates, really.”
“It’s all well and good a club asking for an unrealistic figure, but the bottom line is that the price will be the price.
“You have to be patient in the market sometimes to get the man that you want. Nine times out of 10, the two owners get together and it all becomes very realistic. But up until that point, it gets a bit cloudy.”
Pardew has only been able to add youngsters Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana to his playing staff so far after he was priced out of move for key target Luuk de Jong when FC Twente slapped a £16m price tag on the striker.
Free agent and former Blackburn attack Junior Hoilett also remains a target, although his wage demands may prove problematic, but Pardew remains confident in his squad despite recent setbacks.
“I don’t envisage too many coming in because I have got some great young players who have not seen a lot of football,” he added.
“We are going to be leaning on Haris Vuckic, [Shane] Ferguson and Sammy Ameobi a lot more than we did last year, and Mehdi [Abeid], who hasn’t really played here too much.
“So I am looking forward to [those games] because we have got a great under-belly of young players here who need games.
“I don’t really want to bring in experienced players just to make my squad bigger, I just want us to be a tight ship, and we will utilise everybody we have at the club.”