Five players Newcastle’s ‘nice little kitty’ could buy

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew alluded to a possible sea change in the thrifty Magpies’ approach to the transfer market following their win against Aston Villa, when stating his club had a ‘nice little kitty’ to spend during the summer.

With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of realistic targets the north east’s biggest guns could go for when the football season ends and the silly season kicks off in earnest.

Despite sitting just five points off sixth-placed Manchester United after their 1-0 victory over Paul Lambert’s men, Newcastle are a massive 66/1 to finish in the top-six this season.

Clement Grenier

Newcastle failed in a bid to secure the 23-year-old’s services during the January transfer window, with Grenier’s agent indicating that his client had a better chance of making France’s World Cup squad by staying at Lyon until the end of the season.

The attacking-midfielder is seen as a replacement for recently departed PSG man Yohan Cabaye and should be gettable for around £11m, provided he doesn’t catch the big guns’ eyes in Brazil.

Cristian Rodriguez

The Uruguayan nicknamed ‘Cebolla’ or ‘The Onion’ back in his homeland for his ability to ‘make opposing defenders cry’ has made 20 La Liga and Champions League appearances this year for Atletico Madrid, but all bar one were from the bench.

Rodriguez’s representative Daniel Delgado revealed that the left-winger was in talks with an English club recently, although a move failed to materialise, and the 27-year-old could replace wantaway Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa on Tyneside in the summer.

Aaron Hunt

English-born Werder Bremen and Germany man Hunt is being tracked by a number of English clubs, as the 27-year-old will be available on a free when his contract expires this summer.

The attacking-midfielder has scored three and laid-on another three Bundesliga goals this term and could be seen as a budget alternative to Grenier, if Newcastle wish to preserve cash in Pardew’s war-chest to pursue other targets.

Joleon Lescott

With fans’ favourite Fabricio Coloccini set to leave a huge void at centre-half by moving back to Argentina at the end of the campaign, Lescott seems the obvious candidate to top Pardew’s list of replacements.

The 31-year-old is resigned to leaving 13/10 Premier League title co-favourites Manchester City and could be amenable to a move to a club of Newcastle’s size and stature.

Loic Remy

The on-loan QPR striker underlined his huge worth to Newcastle with his 12th goal in 22 Premier League games for the club against Villa and with Arsenal thought to be readying a bid for Remy, Pardew ought to be working overtime on a deal for the 21-cap Les Bleus man.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.