NEWCASTLE UNITED will wait until the summer to make any permanent moves in the transfer market, but they face more interest from France with Paris St Germain weighing up a move for right-back Mathieu Debuchy.

Magpies’ boss Alan Pardew was in London to meet owner Mike Ashley and director of football Joe Kinnear yesterday with the club’s transfer strategy high on their list of issues to discuss.

Pardew has made no secret of his desire to bring more firepower to St James’ Park with the Magpies light in options behind top goalscorer Loic Remy.

Yoan Gouffran has chipped in with seven goals but he has been used in a wider role recently, while Papiss Cisse and Shola Ameobi have been in and out the team.

Pardew is keen to alleviate the pressure on Remy’s shoulders and he has been linked with a move for Dutch striker Luuk de Jong, a player the Magpies courted before he moved to Borussia Monchengladbach 18 months ago.

The Northern Echo:

FRENCH FANCY: Paris St Germain are weighing up a move for Newcastle United right-back
Mathieu Debuchy

The 23-year-old is open to a move away from the club after failing to make an impression in the Bundesliga and sources in Germany suggest his employers are willing to discuss a loan move, something Ashley would favour after the success of Remy’s temporary deal.

The French striker’s future was also a topic of discussion in London, though the Magpies are unlikely to make a permanent move for the front man this month.

Newcastle are reluctant to pay a substantial fee for a player who is on bail on suspicion of rape after an alleged incident in May, while Queens Park Rangers’ chairman Tony Fernandez is also keen to hold off talks over a permanent move until the summer despite Harry Redknapp’s comments earlier this week.

A delay could affect Newcastle’s chances of landing the French international, though, with several other clubs keeping an eye on Remy’s situation.

The 27-year-old has scored ten times since arriving in the summer and a continuation of such form will drive up the competition for his signature.

Montpellier chairman Laurent Nicollin revealed he expected the Magpies to make an offer for creative player Remy Cabella, but the midfielder has revealed he wants to stay in France until the end of the season.

While the Magpies don’t expect to receive any bids for Yohan Cabaye this month, their resolve could be tested with Paris St Germain ready to make a move for Debuchy.

Laurent Blanc is looking for a replacement while right-back Christophe Jallet recovers from injury and the PSG boss has earmarked Debuchy as an ideal replacement, although Newcastle are likely to reject their advances.

Newcastle will look to end a run of three defeats this weekend, but they will have to overcome high-flying Manchester City to do so.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side has not been beaten since November 10 at Sunderland, but Gouffran believes the Magpies have already proved they can compete with the best this season.

“Manchester City are a great team with some strong players and they will try to come here and win we know that,” the Frenchman said. “They are on a great run at the moment but we must go out there and play our own game. We’ve shown already we can beat some great teams; Chelsea, Tottenham, Man United and coming here is always difficult so hopefully we can get another good result against City.”

* Newcastle will host Manchester City in the Under-21 Premier League Cup quarter-final with the game scheduled to take place the week commencing Monday, 27th January.