Pardew happy with current options.
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Newcastle manager Alan Pardew did not enter the transfer market this summer as he could not find affordable players better than his current squad, according to BBC Sport.
The club’s inactivity in the transfer window has come under some criticism from fans, after Pardew’s side only narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season.
The Magpies had been linked with the likes of Darren Bent, Bafetimbi Gomis and a return on loan for Demba Ba, and Pardew admits they were particularly keen to strengthen upfront. One signing was made to aid this, with French international Loic Remy arriving on loan from Queens Park Rangers for the season.
However, he feels there weren’t any players worth paying big money for, and pointed to the quality of his signings in January as a reason not to be too busy this summer.
“Some of the options available within our financial means were not as good as the players we already had,” Pardew explained.
“There is no point bringing in new players unless they can improve us and take us forward.”
One positive for this summer was keeping hold of key midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who had been the subject of strong interest from Arsenal in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff had reportedly been lined up as a replacement if Cabaye left, in a move which surely would have forced Newcastle into the market.