AFTER flying in to Newcastle United’s Benton training complex, Loic Remy disappeared through the entrance doors before putting the finishing touches to a season-long loan move to St James’ Park last night. Eight months after he was on the brink of a move to Tyneside, the Magpies have finally landed their man.

Despite acquiring versatile forward Yoan Gouffran in January along with five other new players to boost the first team squad, Pardew has regularly spoken of a desire to bring in another striker before the new season. Not only has he got that man, he has got the one Newcastle originally wanted at the start of the year.

The deal, thought to have cost a £2m loan fee with a view to a permanent deal at a pre-arranged price next summer, represents the best bit of business Newcastle could have done from their three main attacking targets.

In convincing Queens Park Rangers to agree to an initial loan, potentially the biggest problem with landing Remy has been dealt with. Newcastle were reluctant to push through a permanent arrangement now because the player, who continues to plead his innocence, was arrested on suspicion of rape and is expected to discover if he is to be charged with an offence next month.

The shorter term option also gives the player and the club time to see if the move suits both parties – and Newcastle know Remy’s value has the potential to soar if he continues to hit the sort of form he showed in during QPR’S unsuccessful battle against relegation.

He has represented his country more times than his French team-mate Bafetimbi Gomis and Darren Bent, whose last cap for England was fast approaching two years ago.

Remy is fast, loves to run at defences and is a brilliant finisher, but he can also play out wide which will provide Pardew with a different option if he ends up signing another out-and-out striker or continues to use Papiss Cisse at the top of his system.

But Pardew has often spoken about the need to bring in two new strikers, so he hopes Remy will be followed by one of the other two men director of football Joe Kinnear has had a series of talks about. The deals have proven more difficult to conclude.

It is understandable that Newcastle do not want to overspend on Bent. Whatever people think of the financial model the club’s owner Mike Ashley is implementing, it does not make too much sense to match Aston Villa’s £8m valuation, knowing it will only deteriorate from here on in at the age of 29.

The former Sunderland striker’s scoring record is proven. Despite a frustrating couple of years since leaving the Stadium of Light in 2011, he has averaged better than a goal in every three league games for Aston Villa – highlighting why he has commanded more than £50m in transfer fees since leaving Ipswich for Charlton in a £4m deal in 2005.

Bent can play a more withdrawn role, even on the wing, but his biggest asset is an ability to pop up in the box and find the net, which is why Pardew has preferred him over Gomis to be one of Newcastle’s main summer recruits.

But Fulham’s willingness to pay more in terms of both a fee and wages for Bent has proven a problem, so Newcastle have had to weigh up whether or not they think Premier League experience is worth as much another gamble, albeit a slightly younger one, from overseas?

Gomis, 27, has been prolific in the French leagues for the last eight years with St Etienne and Lyon, but there are question marks over his work-rate. Even though Lyon want to sell him this summer after entering the final year of his contract, his career best seasonal return of 16 goals in Ligue 1 last season will be difficult to replace.

Pardew has landed the first – and best - piece of his attacking jigsaw, but the next phase could be just as important, so all eyes remain firmly on Kinnear.

JOE KINNEAR’S ATTACKING OPTIONS

Loic Remy travelled to Tyneside yesterday to undergo a medical ahead of a loan move to Newcastle United. Magpies boss Alan Pardew is hoping Remy is one of two new attacking arrivals before the start of the new season, chief football writer Paul Fraser looks at the three main men on the radar

LOIC REMY

Nationality: French

Birthplace: Rillieux-la-Pape, France

Date of birth: January 2, 1987

Age: 26

Position: Striker/Winger

Height: 6ft 1in

League career: Queens Park Rangers (2012-13) Played 14 Goals 6

Marseille (2010-13) Played 74 Goals 28

Nice (2008-10) Played 68 Goals 26

Lens (2007-08) Played 10 Goals 3

Lyon (2006-08) Played 12 0

Biggest strengths: A real threat when he runs at pace towards goal and is just as dangerous playing out wide where he is also capable of finding the net

Biggest weaknesses: He is not a creator, so if Newcastle look at playing him behind a lone striker it is unlikely to work. Not keen to drop in to midfield.

 

BAFETIMBI GOMIS

Nationality: French

Birthplace: La Seyne-sur-Mer, Senegal

Date of birth: August 6, 1985

Age: 27

Position: Striker

Height: 6ft

League career: Lyon (2009-13) Played 145 Goals 50

St Etienne (2005-2009) Played 98 Goals 38

Biggest strengths: Has a knack of being in the right place to score goals and has power to cause problems.

Biggest weaknesses: All too often he can stray in to offside positions and is reluctant to track back.

DARREN BENT

Nationality: English

Birthplace: Tooting, London

Date of birth: February 6, 1984

Age: 29

Position: Striker

Height: 5ft 11in

League career: Aston Villa (2011-13) Played 54 Goals 21

Sunderland (2009-11) Played 58 Goals 32

Tottenham (2007-09) Played 60 Goals 18

Charlton (2005-07) Played 68 Goals 32

Ipswich (2001-05) Played 122 Goals 47

Biggest strengths: Is a potent goalscorer more than capable of hitting 20 goals in a season again and still has pace to frighten Premier League defences.

Biggest weaknesses: Often goes missing in matches and hardly looks to have contributed when he fails to find the net.