Pardew Wants Defenders (Again) - Will Ashley Spend?

Last updated : 20 October 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

Bids to land Douglas from FC Twente and Mathieu Debuchy from Lille before the end of August both fell through, because Mike Ashley wouldn't pay the asking price.

Alan Pardew: "We have about seven names for a centre-half."

However, Derek Llambias said two weeks ago: "We don't have pressure on us to buy a central defender, James Perch has played there, and done well."

Club captain Fabricio Coloccini tweaked a hamstring during the Carling Cup defeat to Manchester United in September, while Steven Taylor is still sidelined by a calf strain picked up against Reading three days later.

Lille rejected at least two offers from Newcastle for the highly-rated Debuchy, while a £4m move for Brazilian Douglas came to nothing.