Gomis on Newcastle´s wishlist, says Pardew

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he wants to bring Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis to the English Premier League club.

Gomis’ contract with Lyon will expire at the end of the 2013-14 season and with the 27-year-old striker unwilling to sign a new deal, the Ligue 1 outfit are looking to offload him to ensure a transfer fee with Aston Villa and Swansea having been previously mentioned as possible destinations.

But after Lyon claimed Newcastle United had contacted them about Gomis, Pardew confirmed he is chasing the French international with Papiss Cisse potentially set to leave St James’ Park.

“We have expressed an interest in Gomis,” Pardew told The Times.

“We think that he’s a player who has great potential.

“He’s a French international who’s played at the highest level for his club.”

Cisse has reportedly told Newcastle United he will not wear their new shirt because it has loan company Wonga, one of the club’s main sponsors, emblazoned across the front.

The 28-year-old Senegalese striker will refuse to wear the Wonga-sponsored shirt due to his Islamic beliefs and Newcastle United may be forced to sell Cisse if he refuses to play.

Gomis, who has scored 72 goals in 194 matches for Lyon, is keen to take a step up in his career and at 184 centimetres and the French forward could be perfectly suited for the Premier League.

Last season, Gomis scored 16 goals and set up another six in 37 games as he helped Lyon to third spot in Ligue 1, while the French club also reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League before being eliminated by Tottenham.

Newcastle United have also been linked with a move for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, who dropped behind Christian Benteke in Paul Lambert’s pecking order last season.