Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed his frustration at missing out on Loic Remy despite making a ‘fantastic offer’.
Loic Remy was close to joining Newcastle before QPR hijacked their move and signed the Frenchman. In fact Marseille accepted Newcastle’s bid of £8 million and Remy was expected to arrive for a medical before the move fell apart.
QPR are believed to have signed Remy on a £80,000-per-week wage, which is more than what Newcastle offered to him. The striker is also rumoured to have a get-out clause in his contract if Harry Redknapp’s side gets relegated this season.
Newcastle United are in desperate need of new signings after losing Demba Ba to Chelsea and a host of players to injuries and African Cup of Nations. Manager Alan Pardew was confident of replacing Ba, Newcastle’s top goal scorer this season, with the Frenchman, but was left frustrated as Remy chose to join QPR.
But Pardew believes that the club did everything possible to land to striker. In a recent statement to the press, the Newcastle manager stopped short of criticizing the player for this, but reinstated that Newcastle will not pay ‘silly money’ to get their man. Pardew said:
“It was a little strange as we had obviously put a lot of work in and made the club an offer that was accepted, a good offer.”
“We made a fantastic offer to the player and then he didn’t arrive. This club is on a financial footing that is strong, but we’re still not going to pay silly money.
“We’re going to pay what is correct and that is what we offered.
“We made a fantastic offer, a fantastic Premiership offer to that player – trust me.
“I don’t really want to criticise the player. The player makes the decision and he stands by it. I don’t really have anything else to say on it.”
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has also criticized Remy’s decision and believes that money played a big part in it. The former England international has also hoped that Alan Pardew has a back-up plan in place in order to replace Demba Ba. Shearer stated:
“I am surprised to see Remy go to QPR instead of Newcastle. I would have a good guess that financial things had a part to play.
“It is a tough one for the fans to see him so close and then choose QPR, although I’m sure Harry Redknapp will tell you a different story.
“But I’m sure it will hurt the Newcastle fans to see him go there.
“With Ba, it was obviously disappointing to see their top scorer leave in the way he did. Why he did it, you’ll have to ask him. But it’s left Newcastle with a huge gap that they obviously need to fill.
“The manager has tried to do that.
“Hopefully, they will have a plan B and a plan C. I don’t know. But they are desperately in need of players.”
Newcastle United are also running the risk of losing Fabricio Coloccini, who has stated his desire to return to Argentina. It will be a busy transfer market for Alan Pardew as he looks to strengthen his thin squad in the bid to maintain Newcastle’s Premier League status.
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