ALAN PARDEW has defended Newcastle United’s lack of activity on the final day of the transfer window, but admitted the club was shocked by the prices they were quoted for their leading attacking targets.

While the Magpies allowed Hatem Ben Arfa and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to leave on loan on deadline-day, their efforts to add to their nine summer signings came to nothing.

Having tracked Alexandre Lacazette all summer, Newcastle were unable to persuade Lyon to reduce their £14m valuation of the striker, while a deadline-day inquiry about Jermain Defoe came to nothing when the former England international demanded wages of around £90,000-a-week.

As a result, the Magpies look short of options at both ends of the field, but while Pardew concedes it is becoming increasingly difficult for a club like Newcastle to compete with the leading sides in the Premier League, he maintains he is satisfied with this summer’s transfer activity when it is assessed as a whole.

“The window was very tough for lots of teams not at the very top of the Premier League because prices were very high,” said the Magpies manager. “There wasn’t a lot of good product on the market, and it was difficult for teams like ourselves to secure top players.

“I think we’re all going to find it even more difficult in the future because there’s a new TV deal being negotiated by the Premier League and prices are going to go even higher. It’s difficult to know exactly where they’re going to be, particularly for offensive players.

“This market threw up a couple of players where their value was a bit of an eye-opener. That was a bit surprising, but we did most of our business early and I think we did good business with those players.”

In particular, Pardew remains confident that Newcastle possess enough attacking firepower to win matches this season despite the summer departure of Loic Remy, Shola Ameobi and Luuk de Jong.

Emmanuel Rivieire has arrived from Monaco to lead the line, but beyond the Frenchman, Newcastle are reliant on Ayoze Perez, a 21-year-old whose previous experience came in the Spanish Second Division, Facundo Ferrerya, an Argentinian loanee who is currently unavailable because of a back problem, and Adam Armstrong, a 17-year-old who is still to score his first senior goal.

The situation should improve when Papiss Cisse returns from his long-term lay-off because of a knee problem – the Senegalese striker is expected to step up to full training in a fortnight’s time – but the loss of Siem de Jong until Christmas at the earliest has further exposed a lack of depth in Newcastle’s attacking arsenal.

Rolando Aarons, who is also injured, is the only attacking player to have scored for the Magpies this season, but Pardew maintains that the club’s attacking problems are being overplayed ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Southampton.

“I think we have goals in the team,” he said. “I think we’ve got enough goals in this team to win Premier League games, and I think we have enough in this group to have a good season. If I didn’t say that, you’d call me a madman, but I actually do think we have enough.”

Nevertheless, with de Jong unavailable, there will be increased pressure on Remy Cabella as he attempts to get used to life in the Premier League following a £7m switch from Montpellier.

Having spent most of his time on the flank so far, the 24-year-old will be switched infield to occupy the vacant number ten position this afternoon, a role that should play to his creative strengths.

He has produced flashes of attacking inspiration in his first four appearances in a Newcastle shirt, although a relative lack of physical strength means there have also been times when he has looked ill equipped to deal with the hurly-burly of the English game.

The physical demands of the French league are markedly different to those on this side of the Channel, but while both Cabella and Riviere cannot be expected to adapt overnight, a lack of alternatives means their acclimatisation period cannot last forever.

“It’s a little bit tougher when players are coming from abroad and have to adjust to the Premier league,” conceded Pardew. “I’d give Manu (Riviere) as an example. I spoke to him today and there’s certain things that happen in this league which he’s been surprised by.

“It shakes players up and knocks them off balance a bit. Remy’s treatment has been similar. People have said to me that he needs to be stronger, and I’d agree with that. But I also think he’s come in for some treatment that he would never have got in France, so he’s having to adjust his game as well. Making those adjustments is very important, but they need time.”