ALAN Pardew has confirmed that Danny Guthrie is set to leave Newcastle United this summer, with Danny Simpson's future also looking uncertain, and revealed the club will prioritise the capture of a goalscoring centre-half.

Simpson has repeatedly refused to sign a new contract, and with the Magpies hierarchy refusing to improve their final offer of around £25,000-a-week, a resolution to the impasse looks unlikely.

Guthrie, who is due to become a free agent this summer, has expressed a desire to play more regular first-team football, and Aston Villa are ready to offer him a move away from St James' Park.

“Danny's (Simpson) been offered a great contract which him and his agent agree is not correct for him,” said Pardew, during a phone-in on BBC Radio Newcastle. “Danny (Guthrie) wants to play first-team football and if that's the case, he should go. He's done a brilliant job for us.”

Newcastle's scouting team have been monitoring a number of targets in the last couple of months, and Pardew is keen to strengthen his defence with the purchase of a centre-half who is capable of commanding in the air.

“Set plays have been really disappointing this year and I am contemplating bringing in someone because we don't have a dominant header of the ball,” he said. “On the scouting front, we are looking at a centre-half who can come and score us eight goals next season.

“We are saying to Steven Taylor and Mike Williamson, 'Are you going to bring that for us', and putting a bit of pressure on those guys to improve.”

Pardew also confirmed that Newcastle will attempt to renegotiate Demba Ba's contract in order to keep the Senegal international at St James' Park.

“There is a situation with his contract and we are in talks with him and his agent,” he said. “It is not a forgone conclusion that he will stay, but the Newcastle public have played their part by really singing his name. He must love that.”